Women and men have always had conflicting differences since the beginning of time. Natural given characteristics to both sexes whether they be physical or mental have always been quite different amongst the two sexes. In modern time women and men are gaining the same amount of power, while in the past men were the only holders of power. Women still face different obstacles that men do not, though things are looking up for the female’s future.
In the absence of gender socialization, some believe that gender differences would not even exist. If a young girl was treated exactly the same as her young brother from infancy to young adulthood there’s a chance that the drastic gender differences would be non-existent. However, whether or not young girls played with dolls as a young age or boys played war, girls will still have a maternal instinct and the boys will have a more aggressive mentality. Men are built physically stronger than women and therefore tend to be drawn toward more physical activities and more labor oriented jobs, while women usually find other interests. Besides the physical differences between women and men there are plenty of mental differences among the two sexes. Women are generally more emotionally driven while men are usually goal oriented, so even in the absence of gender socialization, women and men even if treated equally from the start are still going to have vast differences.
Throughout the last 100-300 years the changes that women have seen and been affected by have been phenomenal. Women have gained a lot of ground in politics, the work force, and even more power within their own households. There was a time in history when women were unable to voice their opinion in politics being unable to cast a vote or run for office, and now in modern time there are more than one woman running in the presidential campaign. The work force is filled with powerful women who lead as executives for large companies like Indra Nooyi CEO of Pepsi, or Speaker of the House Nancy Peolosi, these women are in powerful positions that were never filled by women long time ago. Besides the bigger more noticeable changes that have widely affected the world, there has been a subtle change of the role women play in the household. Overtime women have gone from being the “housewife”, or the primary homemakers and caretakers of the children while men earn the money. Now women and men can both be the bread winners, the stereotypical role place on women is slowly dissolving and both spouse/parents are sharing the responsibilities that come with the house and family.
A troublesome situation that still remains for women in modern time is the negative sexual attention that women often receive. There seems to be a double standard when a woman is called a “slut” for sleeping around when a man is called a “pimp”. The number of times a woman deals with negative sexual attention daily is incomparable to what a man receives. One in six women and one in thirty-three men will be a victim of sexual assault throughout their lifetime. The vast difference in this statistical information is not shocking at all to most, on the contrary it is quire predictable. It is a known fact that women’s sexual appeal brings upon negative, unwanted attention. Sayings lie “he just wants a piece of ass” or “He wants to get in her pants”, are always comments from a man and never a female. In our modern society women have been reduced to mere breasts, lips, legs, and a vagina. While they are gaining ground in education, politics, and work force, women are still victimized as “piece of meat”.
Women have come a long way over time and have carved a new path for the women to come. While the word “feminist” generally brings upon negative attention, it is the feminist of the world, those who are for women’s rights, whom are creating a opportunity filled future for all females to come. Men and women will continue to endure different treatment regardless of what day and age, or even socialization they’ve been brought up in. Before the equality of men and women was non-existent, and now it is a work in progress, the future for women is looking up.
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