An Open Letter to My Friends Who Support Gender Discrimination
If you do not feel genders should be treated equally you are deranged. What people fail to realize is that women are capable of the same responsibilities as males. Gender discrimination puts a great toll on the world. Men and women are considered equal but not the same. If we have equal value shouldn’t we all be given equal treatment?
While women have achieved major progress with given rights and laws, females are still limited. Why is it that majority of economical and political powers are males? Women are lacking of rights, one being inequality in the workplace. Men have better financial opportunities and women are given partial opportunities. Traditional society embraces the fact that men are supposed to acquire a higher professional qualification in their career. Sex discrimination in employment is affecting pay imbalance and business seclusion by gender. While man can enlist and serve in the front line of combat, women can only register with selective services. Women have an inability to achieve a top job in the career ladder in certain companies. Statistics indicate that most employers tend to deny women permission to obtain established occupations because women are more likely than men to leave their jobs when they become married or pregnant.
Americans made it accustom for women to be caregivers. Their ability to be able to produce offspring gives a nurturing and caring stereotype that women are only good for caring, or this is the profession they should be associated with. Some of the gender differences are biological and some but others are a product of socialization experiences. Gender stereotypes are culture based generalizations about gender differences and roles. We tend to divide the genders up; males are masculine and females are weaker, this is the pave way to sexism. They also create certain expectations for males and females, that forces them to try to fit in and obtain a certain image. Traits are ascribed to genders and any representation of otherwise is a problem. You become an outcast. Assumptions according to stereotypes, women cannot play sports. Women cannot drive. Women cannot participate in engineering and science. Women are only good for reproducing and being attractive. Women cannot do this and that while men just cannot show emotions. Forbid a man show emotion he is automatically considered a coward or weak. Stereotypes have a negative effect on young women and men. Media is a great tool shaping perspectives of the world and standards of being a male or female. Stereotypes are recurrent in movies, magazines, social media, and television. Harm done by these harsh perceptions cause self-harm including eating disorders, excessive anxiety, low self esteem, and over-exercising.
Gender intolerance is shaped by the process of socialization including schools, family, peers, media, religion, and other institutions. Parents tend to have the biggest impact on children with the values and traits they instill in their children. The different treatment towards children depending on the sex is permanently stuck with them forever. Gender norms can be seen through things as simple as toys. Boys are supposed to play with trucks,remote control cars, super heroes, legos, fake guns, all “masculine” objects correct? While girls play with dolls, easy bake ovens, and dress up clothing implying more “feminine” purpose as in nurturing and and taking care of the house while boy toys imply the independence, protective, and more aggressive traits.
Gender inequality is an issue that needs to be put in mind and improved for better living standards and persons well-being. These classifications do not capture the reality and diversity of individuals. How can you tell someone they cannot do what they have dreamed of because of their sex? Despite sex everyone should be treated collectively as one. A female deserves the same respect as a male when it is given or deserved. We need to actively work equally and as one to make the world a better place.
