Bogus Feminism Thinking - Essay Example

Gender focus Our society today is greatly influenced by the bogus feminism thinking. Men and women are viewed differently,but due the fact that feminism is affecting our society not only women are affected but men also. There have been movements to support gender equality in recent times. The society has induced different expectation and opportunities to men. Women are less happy today than they were in 1970s and the ‘change brought about through the women’s’ movement may have decreased women’s happiness’ (Stevenson and Wolfers, 2007). In the article ‘Between the Sexes’ Ama Quindlen tried to advocate that women should be welcomed into a variety of positions and roles that presumably reserved for men. She held that the divide created by men is not because of big differences but because very small and minor differences. Men are required to take some specific roles different from those that the women take. In our society today men are left with little choice on how to spend their lives. Men are expected to stick to their careers for the sake of the family. Society justifies that women on the other hand can drop out of the labor market to be house makers or in other terms housewives. On the same note women can decide to stay at home and rely on the glory of their husbands but men don’t have such opportunity, the criticism they will receive from the society will be outrageous. Men have also acquired great opportunities in the work place demoralizing women. Disciplines such as engineering and science have been male dominated. Women can also do and perform a better on these arenas, but because of the discriminating set the have less opportunities. The divisions between the sexes start in early ages of the children. In the article’ between the sexes ‘categorization starts as “him and her” and so on. There is still a “glass ceiling” between men and women. Young boys and girls can’t dance easily on each other’s arms without any development of feeling uneasy. Women still struggle as artists as depicted by ‘Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions’ by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Today in the music and movie industry women who are depicted as nude are regarded as more attractive by the marketers. But men won’t appear nude in music videos or movies. Articles written by men are most in any form of literature. It is not that women are less artistic than men but because of the discrimination that exist between the sexes. The way men look at women is also discriminating they view women as sex objects. Most pornographic material is viewed by men. Society by these acts of representing suggestive photos of nude women depicts that women are there to sexually satisfy men. The freedom of expression in women is so limited as compared to men. Taking a look at the family setup the husband is expected to have the last say whether he is wrong or not. Women who are now engaging in writing, weather in artistic or academic are concentrating so much on the issue of feminism. This can be attributed to the fact that they are trying to express themselves in as other avenues are not justly open for them. Good governance is good governance irrespective of the gender, men have more chance in matters pertaining governance as compared to women. The opportunities of leadership in men are evident from matters of corporate scenario to state leadership. Anybody can attest that most presidents in the state are men. It is to the least expectation of the society that women that women can be good leaders. The prevailing of outdated stereotype about the different opportunities and roles about male and women can be attributed to this phenomenon. Men are expected to rise in terms of hierarchy, to gain status. Women don’t need to rise to gain status the glory of their husband is enough. A first lady is the wife to the president of a state but ‘first gentleman’ is non-existence. This fact makes men to fight for leadership and governance position. Though the issue of feminism depicts women as less privileged, the role and opportunity of men is not rosy men also have hard and in other cases dangerous jobs. A good example is mining. Men will often work for longer hours, they will commute more, and to sum it all they have more responsibility than women. The role and opportunity of men and women been a fallacy of feminism affects both men and women. A man is expected to work hard to acquire a higher social status in order to get a beautiful gal to marry. On the other hands girls are only expected to make themselves look good and they are given almost a 100% assurance of getting a good and responsible husband. In the education sector men are left to struggle with more complex courses such as science and engineering to gain status, this evidently show that the role of men is not an easy task. Though women are vied to be more discriminated they should not shy away from being independent and strong. The same way Mairs presents herself to be. Women should take up their roles and opportunity; they should go on and accomplish what others think they can’t pursue. It is important for the men to start noting that women are strong and respect their roles. Motherhood should not also be a valid excuse of women not realizing their potential. It is up to the women to have role models in the society including to profile jobs in governance and this will curb the idea of men imagining women running issues that can be related to matters of governance. It is true the world of work is not favorable to women, they are the ones who are expected to be flexible, balance family and work related issues. But they should stand tall and overcome this perception. Childcare that is viewed as the role of women should not act as hindrance to the development of their career, men should help in this role to give women an equal opportunity. The top jobs that are preserved for men can be said to be as a result of sexism injustice. These opportunities should be based on the merit and ability of one to perform, by doing this both women and men have equal opportunities. To be a woman is not a disability, as the adage goes “what men can do women can do better,” then women should present themselves in strength and independent. They should not focus on the reliance of the glory of their husbands. Work cited Elizabeth, C. Stanton. The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions. Seneca Falls, New York, 1848 Mairs, Nancy. On Being a Cripple. University of Arizona Press, Tucson & London, latest edition.2013. Quindlen, Anna. Between the Sexes, A Great Divide. 1953 Read More