If you awoke one day to discover that gender equality had miraculously been achieved worldwide, what would you notice? What would be similar or different?
After reading the question, I immediately knew my answer. I'm pretty sure I answered the question, but here is my response:
Good morning world! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and males and females are equal. Women no longer have to fight for sufficient wages for equal work. There are no longer any debates about who actually owns a women’s body. That’s right; a woman does have the right to choose whether or not an abortion is right for her. The number of stay- at- home dads has actually risen because moms are out working hard to support their families and the men in their lives don’t mind. Rape and domestic abuse rates have decreased and there is actually a woman running for President without receiving wardrobe criticism. Everyone is now free to be educated and international women no longer need to feel like their husband’s property. While the rights of the child are usually placed in the hands of the mother, more men are receiving custody of their children. To the same token, chivalry is dead. There is no longer a need for “ladies first” because if men can get the doors for themselves, so can women. Life is going to be great from now on in the land of gender.
Gender inequality is an issue that I believe is one of the most fought for. Regardless of race, ethnicity, age, region, or economic status, a woman is a woman; if nothing else, that is something that all women have in common. It is for this reason that if I awoke one day and all was equal in the land of gender, my life would continue to be filled with inequality because I’m still black.
While gender equality is important, I do not believe that equality in this one area will solve other inequalities in the world. In fact, I believe that with gender equality, individuals will be allotted more time to focus on other differences and inequalities such as race and socioeconomic status. For some people gender equality is two steps forward, but other factors bring them five steps back. In the documentary “Say My Name,” many of the artists drew attention to the struggles of females in the music industry. However, there was also much talk about the difficulties that they shared by being black and living in the hood; as if being a woman isn’t difficult enough. A segment that resonated with me was the statement made by Estelle regarding the two primary images portrayed by black women in the music industry: “you either have to be Mother Nature with a hair wrap or be dressed sexily with weave down to your butt.” This is how the media defines the success of a black woman, and because of these mockeries and false standards, black women are not taken seriously. I completely agree with Estelle and appreciate when positive representatives, such as her, are being heard and making a societal impact.
Another common disparity mentioned in the film was economics. Many of the women discussed poor childhoods, insufficient child births, and violent encounters in their neighborhoods. While the argument can be made that their lives were more difficult because they were women, many from single parent homes, there are still plenty of men in these poor neighborhoods experiencing similar events. One common goal that was held between these various artists was to get rich and get out of the hood. One woman mentioned that “if you don’t get out of the hood, someone will always be there trying to take you down or get rid of you.” I do not suppose that this mentality is held because she is a female, but because of her environment, and I presume that a male would share the same mentality. When it comes to environment, Remy Ma also mentioned the goal of breaking the generational cycle by refusing to be a product of her environment regardless of her educational status or what she was born into. Some would call it being “born into failure,” but positivity comes out of impoverished areas daily.
While my position may seem pessimistic in the eyes of a feminist, I do not make this argument to down play the identity of a woman. As a black woman it would be foolish to value one part of my identity without mentioning the other. I also believe that many individuals gain their strength from the very fact that they are a female. However, I believe that it is fair to say that gender inequality will continue to progress at a faster rate than racial and economic inequalities. Even with the miraculous occurrence of gender equality, I do not foresee gender equality being the trailblazer for all other discriminations. So while the life of a woman may improve, it will never be carefree.
I just turned this in this morning, so we'll see what the teacher says. I don't think it's half bad...
...but what do I know?
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