” The soul has no gender” (Clarissa Estes). We are not automatically born with gender roles, we come to learn them as we grow. Starting with the birth of children, their environment is instantly influenced by gender stereotypes in society. Gender inequality is something that has existed since almost the beginning of time. The more history books you read, the more you will be able to find that men have always had dominance over women. This is because of the assumption that men are superior to women. Gender inequality is still a frequent issue in our American society and this is constantly perpetuated by our popular culture. Families, culture and society are the major forces in this socialization.
Parents wish that their babies turn out masculine or feminine, boys are never dressed in pink since it is considered to be a feminine color. Girls are not to be bought boy toys because they may turn out masculine. It is this unequal and biased treatment between the two sexes that has led to Gender inequality, even until today this is evident in the homes, the workplace, politics, history and even education. In ” Only Daughter, ” Sandra Cisneros wrote, ” Being only a daughter for my father meant my destiny would lead me to become someone’s wife” (4). Sadly, this is how some parents still think.
Even when it comes to education they put their sons above their daughters. ” What I didn’t realize was that my father thought college was good for girls- good for finding a husband” (8). The percentage of the U. S population who have completed a 4-year college degree by gender shows that female students have surpassed their counterparts (Dr. Michael W. Kirst).
Surprisingly enough, college is not just good for finding a potential husband but for also getting an education. In ” I Want a Wife,” written by Judy Brady, it clearly portrays how some people perceive woman ” I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs. I want a wife who will keep my house clean. I want a wife who will clean up after me” (4). Society thinks this is the role a female should take, that she be the one to do all the housework, not get an education and tend to each and every need of her husband. This kind of treatment goes back to the beginning of time, In Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” written by Elizabeth Stanton, ” He has endeavored, in every way that he could, to destroy her confidence in her own powers, to lessen her self-respect, and to make her willing to lead a dependent and abject life” (18). You can clearly see that in both story’s woman are inferior, that they only function is to serve men, and even in some countries woman are shown as property and throughout history this has remained an issue, although, it has gotten progressively better there is still much work to be done. ” A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Gun” by Linda Hasselstrom, ” Their response to the polite request of a woman alone was to use their size, numbers and sex to inspire fear”(24).
This demonstrates that in the society we live in today woman are always at risk of being in danger, men think it is okay to do what they want with us. And the only way your able to feel safe and have an ounce of protection is if you carry a firearm with you. Gender inequality is an evidently urgent problem in the world. Although it is in no way compared to how things used to function it still exists and makes a lot of people suffer its consequences every day. But there are also reasons to trust in the future of gender inequality being stopped. Then, hopefully, people can live equally no matter what gender they are.
