inequality of genders

Gender Inequality: A Historical Perspective

Gender inequality has been a source of contention since the dawn of time. In reality, it has been described as a war of the sexes, with men and women competing for invisible accolades that are highly valued by society. Indeed, the challenge has been very offensive, with some cultures totally dismissing the importance of women in society. It is real that women have long been at the frontline of gender-based violence. Essentially, they have been victims of being perceived as the lesser sex. However, in the new century, there has been a paradigm shift that has brought the empowering of women, sometimes even at the expense of men, which is known as feminism. Women all around the world have joined forces to rise up against the oppression that has maimed them for the last countless centuries. The move has left men pushed aside and societies are now growing to hate men in what may appear to be payback for all the years of torture they put women through. Currently, there is a tug of war between the sexes, with the men trying to reclaim their position of control while women are eager to gain the better position, tirelessly working to prove that they are better than men. Various arguments have been expressed concerning the antagonistic issues between men and women. Importunately, men are trying to show that they have always been pressured while women are eager to state that they have always been discriminated. However, the arguments in support for women have proven to be weightier that those for men. This paper seeks to use the insights of well-known authors to demystify the reason why women’s arguments are graver.

Arguments in Support of Men

Men are considered the victims of gender because the society expects too much from them, both physically and mentally. Naturally, men are stronger and more masculine. Besides, they are not as emotional as women. Therefore, they have always been viewed as the pillars of hope and the backbone of the society. Previously, before the coming of technology and a new world order that brought white collar jobs in offices, the roles of men were distinct. Undoubtedly, they were the hunters, providers, and protectors to women and children. With the coming of the new regime, men’s roles have been left distorted as the society is rife with conflicting signals that leave men befuddled on what exactly manhood entails. The society has grown to castigate men due to the pedestal they have been placed on so high that they are left with no chance of failure. Russell Sanders in ’The Men We Carry in our Minds’ argues that a lot of pressure has been placed on men by a society that altered the definition of manhood and failed to redefine it, leaving men in a quandary (Sanders 228). Additionally, Sanders argues that men are prepared and willing to give out their bodies as sacrifices to be used in drudgery or war by their families and the country at all times. Commonly, men have always been defined by the financial power and their ability to provide. In the event a man lacks finances, his voice is stifled, and the society loses regard for him. Warren Farrell in ’Man Bashing: Trivial Pursuit or a Truth with Consequences?’ argues that the bashing of men in the society today has become a social norm and is not viewed as prejudice against the male gender. In fact, Farrell notes that bashing men has been institutionalized while the bashing of women has been rendered illegal (Kirszner 460). Similar comments can transmute into a lawsuit that can land a man into a great predicament. Unfortunately, men are seldom considered victims of sexuality. In essence, women empowerment has slowly changed into feminism that is out to trample on men so as to hand the long coveted power to women. Men are victims of gender inequality and misandry, which is the hate of men, as well. Such a trend is continually on the rise.

Arguments in Support of Women

For the longest time, women have been the victims of gender inequality. The society has subscribed to the notion that women are the weaker sex and cannot stand up to a man’s potential. Factually, several countries globally are a complete misogynistic society that has no regards for women. They have been esteemed to be objects of beauty while men have been held as objects of power and strength. Susan Sontag in ’A Woman’s Beauty – A Put Down or Power Source’ argues that beauty has been reserved for women only, locking the men outside. In as much as beauty appears to be a desired factor, she continues to argue that beauty has been made obligatory. Thus, a woman loses her power if she lacks beauty (Sontag). Emphatically, the author states that beauty in a woman has been made the yardstick that measures her power in the contemporary society. Unfortunately, women’s beauty holds the power only to attract men who can provide on their behalf. In support of this, Deborah Tannen in ’Marked: Women at the Workplace’ continues to argue that women have been ’marked’ by the society not only at the workplace but in every activity they participate. Evidently, everything about a woman has been established on a dais that makes a public statement no matter the situation (Tannen 108). With regards to gender inequality, women have fallen victims to the beauty trap in that they are not considered of any worth if their erotic capital does not put up a fight for them. Apparently, women have found themselves in a conundrum, not knowing the society’s definition of appropriate because of the fine line that separates beauty and superficiality. If women chose to live with reckless abandon without regard for their appearance, the society disregards them as well. Besides, if they put too much emphasis on their aesthetics, they are categorized as superficial. Consequently, they are left in a maze of confusion not knowing what to do because they stand to lose in both cases. Therefore, women find preening a demanding duty rather than a luxurious morning activity (Tannen 109). Men are not ranked by beauty and are only assessed wholly whilst women have been taught to evaluate their body parts as separate entities. The ’marking’ of women and judging them based on the physical appearance, emotional inclinations, and sex appeal have been the greatest hallmarks used to confine women in the brackets of gender inequality.

Rationale on Gender Inequality

In as much as both men and women find themselves victims of gender inequality, the arguments in support of the latter are more convincing. First, Deborah Tannen uses her firsthand experience at the workplace to portray a world in which women live day by day hanging on a thread as they strive to attain approval from the society premised on their appearance (Tannen 112). Second, even though Russell Sanders paints a grime image of how much pressure and pain has been inflicted on men, the argument is not as concrete because the society is filled with different men who are not only confined to the tedious occupations (Sanders 228). Conversely, the contemporary society has evolved into one with white collar jobs that do not require men to be involved in drudgery. Third, Warren Farrell’s pitched argument that men are bashed by women for the lack of financial muscles does not quite measure up because, naturally, men are created to be givers and providers (Kirzsner 462). Furthermore, the society has been inclined to the belief that money is an element of more importance to men than to women. Besides, women have too much on their plate as they struggle to juggle between all the demands they face in the careers, families, and marriages.

Conclusion

In summary, men and women have both been victims of gender inequality. Basically, it is an issue that springs from the misconstrued concept that men and women are supposed to be equal yet, which is merely impossible. Men and women are the same but not equal as they were created to serve different specific purposes. Gender inequality will cease to be a matter for discussion the day men and women will agree to use their discrepancies to complete each other.

Works Cited

Kirszner, Laurie. “The Blair Reader.” Farrell, Warren. Man Bashing: Trivial Pursuit or a Truth with Consequences? New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2005. 458-464. Book.

Sanders, Russell. “The Men We Carry In Our Minds.” Sanders, Russell. Working Lives, Gendered Institutions. Washington: Milkweed Editions, 1984. 227-230. Book.

Sontag, Susan. “A Woman’s Beauty – A Put Down or Power Source.” Vogue 1975. Magazine.

Tannen, Deborah. “Talking from 9 to 5: Women and Men at Work.” Tannen, Deborah. Chapter Four - Marked: Women in the Work Place. New York: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2001. 107-131. Book.