The Gender War - Essay Example

? The Gender War Gender equality raises concern in most countries and significant efforts have been made to bridge the gap between genders. Women have been at the forefront of fighting for affirmative action due to the long held position that the male dominated society has marginalized them. Feminism movements have aggressively campaigned for women rights and the equality of men and women in all respects. However, the fight for gender equality has taken a perspective that implies women are fighting against men for supremacy and control. This analysis aims to investigate the actual issues in regards to gender equality in our society and the reasons why there was gender inequality in the first place. Also, this analysis aims to discuss the consequences of the gender equality movement and the way forward. The chosen media example, War on Men, offers a candid view on the issue of gender equality and its effects in the society especially on men. According to the author of War on Me, the feminist movements have raised women who view men as enemies. The feminine gender has having been marginalized by men over the years and thus, women have to fight back in order to attain their position in the society as equals to males. It is evident that in the past, women were grossly underrepresented in the workplace as well as in academic fields. In fact, gender typing from childhood prepared women as home keepers who were supposed to raise children and cater for their husbands. However, the situation has dramatically changed in the past decades and women have made significant steps towards being equal to men. The author points out that women are predominantly more in the workplace than men. Also, most of the people graduating from colleges in the recent past have been women. The problem with gender war is that men have been maligned and tagged as the evil people. Arguably, women have become aggressive and they have progressively taken the role of men in the society. However, as women attempt to rise in the society they have inevitably taken into the foray of men. This is because women think that being feminine is a sign of weakness. The assumption is that what men have rightfully belongs to women. Suffice to say, more and more women have become financially independent and they no longer have to depend on women for their upkeep. As women make foray into the domain of men, the effect is that men no longer have no-where to go. Men no longer have the desire to become self sufficient and possibly raise families in the future. This is due to the fact that women have become independent and they no longer think of men as the sole providers. Fundamentally, all genders are equal and thus there is no ground to discriminate people based on their gender. In most societies, traditional cultures form the basis of gender stereotyping. When children are born, they are raised in a manner that fits the prescribed gender roles. Some societies believe that the men are more important than women and this is reflected in the way that children are raised. Male children are encouraged to participate in masculine games and activities. On the other hand, the female children are taught to play submissive roles that border on motherhood and house- keeping duties. Thus, over time women have felt that men have been given undue advantage in life based on their gender. As the author of War on Me points out, women “women are angry”. Due to the anger, feminist movements have made it their business to tackle the perceived inequality by asserting their new found freedom in the society. Although it is evident that all genders are equal, it is necessary for the genders to celebrate the inherent differences that make life balanced. It is right for women to seek equal treatment in all respects but they should also appreciate their femininity. The dynamic relationship that portrays women as good and men as bad has created what can be termed as the battle of the sexes. On the receiving end of this battle are men who feel that they do not have a say in the families. It is imperative that women have taken advantage of the past injustices to make it gain sympathy in the society. The mantra of feminist movements has been that women have been mistreated and they deserve to be respected in the society. However, the issue of gender equality needs to be faced in a sober manner that does not victimize any of the genders. It is necessary for women to be empowered and assisted to attain positions of significance in the society. The article War on Me indicates that most media representations of gender and sexuality seek to portray women as the weaker sex who should be assisted. Women have been put on the front seat while men have taken a back seat. In fact, the current trend may end sidelining the masculine gender. In order for the gender equality to have meaningful impact in the society, there is need for a balanced approach. The empowerment of women should not be done at the expense of men in the society. The gender equality campaign has been vital in promoting the self worth of all people. As the other contends, it is inhuman for women to be considered inferior to men due to their gender. The traditional assumption that men are superior and more capable in certain roles is neither fair nor justified. In order to reinforce gender equality in the society, there is need for concerted efforts right from childhood to raise children in an equal manner. In this respect, girls and boys should be raised in an equal manner. Children’s play activities should be all inclusive parents should not assign activities based on gender typing. Bay raising the children in an equal manner, the issue of inequalities will diminish and the yardstick for evaluation will only be the ability of a person. It should be noted that gender equality does not necessary mean that either of the genders has to cede ground. Women should be allowed to pursue their goals and seek equal treatment in the society but they should also embrace their femininity. After all, every person has special skills and capabilities so it is only fair that the differences between the genders should be used to create balance. In conclusion, gender equality is essential in the current society since all people are born equal. However, it should be noted that the fight for equality should not be biased towards any of the genders. Women should be given equal opportunities but they should also appreciate their feminine nature as well. In order for life balance, women should fight for their rightful position in the society and also celebrate their femininity. 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