Someone shouldn't have to change the way they are in order to get respect from others. When it comes to gender inequality, I think this principle should apply. I know the gender equality movement has many aspects and is a complicated one for society. But on a very personal level, I think the movement is a way for women to cry out for respect and appreciation we should be getting, but aren't. Whether our societies, families, or own behaviors contribute to this respect deficit, it's a hurtful reality for women all over the world. I wonder if this drives women to try to be more masculine than they would otherwise. Let women be happy being mothers and daughters and wives and let them be praised and admired for them. Some of the world's most influential women were exceptional mothers and wives.
But if women feel drawn to other callings, let them also be praised when they achieve.
I think it's interesting how different societies assign value to a life and how they do this differently. In some societies, women are literally less valuable. I think western cultures are just now realizing how wrong this is - at least I hope this is the case. Whether poor or rich, man or woman, black or white, our lives are all of equal value, but not necessarily equal. We're unique too, and I think that paradox is the beauty of being human.
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Layla, just as you noted that some societies assign values to lives, we also see that society has assigned a value system to career choices. And just as males tend to be valued higher than women, "male careers" are also assigned higher values than "female careers." For instance, being a doctor is more prestigious than being a teacher. And being an engineer is more prestigious than being a homemaker. It seems to me that each of these career choices have significant value to this world. They are all very necessary roles, none which we could live without. We need someone to teach young minds. And we need someone to treat and care for the sick. We need both of these roles equally. Yet, since the majority of doctors are males and the majority of elementary school teachers are females, we tend to give a higher value to the male dominated profession.
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