Which factors are cited as contributing to women being treated as second-class citizens?

• A. Economic class alone.
• B. Gender stereotyping, male-imposed standards, and devaluation of feminine qualities.
• C. Lack of education entirely.
• D. Biological differences.

Answer: (B)

Treating women as second-class citizens arises from how society organizes power around gender. Stereotypes about what women can or should be, combined with standards set largely by men, push women into lower-status roles and limit opportunities. The devaluation of feminine qualities—valuing traits associated with men over those linked to women—further erodes women’s status and access to resources, leadership, and pay. This explains persistent inequality across work, politics, and daily life.

Economic class alone doesn’t capture the same persistent, gendered bias that cuts across all classes. A lack of education entirely isn’t accurate, since educated women still face discrimination. Biological differences aren’t the cause of unequal status; the problem lies in social beliefs and power structures surrounding gender.