03 - Gender and Work

It's a global culture that the men lead and the women follow. Even if women have more priorities than men in some cultures, the one leading the country, making the laws, and who is most depended on are indeed the males. The male genderis physically stonger "in general". We have female athletes and as people we all vary in strengths and sizes. Way too much for the statement "All men are stronger than women" to be true. Nonetheless, women have different needs and are more fragile than men are. Parts of our body that are fragile can easily be hurt in physical labor. Our monthly visit of periods is also a problem. The fact that we can get pregnant is a problem too. And harsh physical labor can damage us in these fields immensely.

But while males have their flaws too, women can (if not for harsh physical labor like constructing) still be useful in mental work and cleaning and cooking and other jobs in relation to it. Even though this is true, women are still put second.

Sure, things have changed now with the womens' rights' activists and the laws that have been passed to support them. But some people don't like this kind of change. Some women feel that females have a duty in this world to be good wives and that's all there is to it. Leave the odd jobs to the men, that's their part. And some men think the same way. These people have children. And whatever they believe in and whatever they know, they teach it to them.

That is (maybe just part of) the reason why gender discrimination still exists.

Growing up, I've learned that women have it tough. Not only do we have to take discrimination into account, but things like rapists and gigalos too. We have to be defensive at all times else we'll be taken advantage of. And then we're stuck with a baby and a so-called father who goes out into the world making more babies like he feels he should. Unfair? But that's the way things are when we take our situations into account. The situation being that bearing the baby is what women do. It's a trait all women have.

America might think "Well, we treat everyone fairly whether they be man or woman." But there is a flaw in the treatment. It's the opinions of others. I can't help but notice how men on television look almost the same. They wear whatever they want which is usually a shirt and pants or a suit. Some of them are hairy (make that MOST of them are hairy all over) and unless it's for commercial or a head shot or television act, they don't wear make-up. I don't see any painful high-heel shoes on them either. I barely see any men half-naked or in underwear unless it's a underwear commercial (and even then they hardly show the men wearing it) or a scene in a comedy or pg-13 + movie. Can you say the same thing about women? If you are thinking yes, I have two words "Victoria's Secret". Female nudity, lingerie, short skirts, tights, tube-tops/tank-tops, cleavage. It's every day scenery. Not only in this country but everywhere (well I can't say everywhere because I don't know every single place on the planet). But most of civilization, I think I can say that at least.

Sure, you could say, "Well that's just how the media is. If you don't want to dress that way then no problem.". But when you go to school (high school and under) it's not the same. anything but the same. The popular girls are anyone who wears a short-skirt and lots of make-up. Anyone else is a peon basically..

Moving on from the sad state of kids and teenagers, it's also like this in the adult world. Go for a job and if the employer notices you're a women and you're not wearing make-up (I dunno if they think the face of woman is hideous that it needs to be covered up) or earrings or high-heeled shoes, then you're not "elegant" or "decently dressed" enough to be hired. Since when was making holes in my ears, getting blisters in my feet, and wearing make-up that may damage my skin as I get older, part of getting a job? What does it have to do with work? The answer is, this is the "world's view" of how women should be. Maybe not the entire planet, but in "the world of America" it is.

Appearance and life seems to go hand-in-hand these days. Even a man, should he find a women who doesn't wear make-up but still finds attractive, might pass on a wish or suggestion that his wife wear high-heeled shoes or a victoria's secret lingerie or lots of make-up, and yes even earrings. Is it because he's absolutely fascinated with fabric? Is it because he adores cosmetics? Is it because he loves the heels in high-heeled shoes? Maybe it's because he loves earrings.None of these are the reasons why he asks for them or the reason why a boss/employer would ask for them. It's because that's what's "in". That's what's "popular". The wealthy and the celebrities dress as such. And to be seen, to be recognized, to be loved and compared to the wealthy and the famous, you need to dress like them.

I don't care about whether they advertise these things on commercial or not, the damage is done already. And some people actually like these things. Nothing wrong with it.

It's just that having to succumb to all this while all a man needs to do is comb his hair, take a shower, smell nice, and wear a suit or even just shirt and jeans, and maybe shave and that's all there is to looking appropriate for a job.. is very troubling. And it is indeed unfair.

The work relation to this. Is a problem. And it is discrimination.

Sometimes discrimination moves much farther than this. All the way into sexual harassment and ideals of "Women are second best in these jobs.."(jobs men were only allowed to do in the past) "so if the chance arises I could replace you with a man." There are also times when the boss/employer believes "Well, in my time women weren't allowed to say much, and despite the rucus womens' rights' activists have caused, as far as I'm concerned, your say doesn't count."

I've never been in these situations, but I've seen them in movies, and I read about them in school in history classes.

This as a whole is the flaw. It's not just the laws. Even if the laws are there, they can help some, but it depends on the people. Their opinions. Their views. As long as you have people with opposing views to the idea that women are people and they should have equal rights to me, there will always be some form of gender discrimination that exists. At least that's what I think.