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| http://www.themuslimtimes.org/2013/06/asia/gender-equality -in-the-holy-quran-in-the-beginning-man-and-woman-were-equal-2 |
Everywhere you look you will see women constantly being put down and belittled. You would think that as times changed things would too but for women things have not really changed. Men are viewed as the “dominant” and “powerful” gender. Even when we think of God we think of God as a He. Why can’t God be a She? Females are as equal and powerful as men. Without women men would not be in this world. Society has such a great influence on the double standards between men and women. As discussed in class on Wednesday, females are meant to be "feminine" while males are meant to be "masculine." Why can't girls do things that guys do? We are all humans, the only thing that differentiates us is our reproductive parts which can be changed with surgery so basically we are all the same if you ask me. These double standard mindsets are often placed in our heads from birth.
Many of us may have been put down at one point in our life for being a female. When we were born we did not really have a choice or say of what we wanted, our parents normally would have picked for us. Little girls were meant to have a doll and a doll house to practice being a housewife in the future while little boys got action figures and trucks to make them “tough” and “manly.” When growing up, most of your parents either got you the typical doll house along with a doll to play with or if you were lucky you got to choose what you wanted. Some parents fed into these double standards while other did not.
When growing up I was never fond of playing with dolls yet alone owning one. Family members would always buy me dolls but I would always dismember them; I was a evil child. I was that little girl that was always into cars and would always find myself playing with the boys as opposed to the girls. When I moved to America I started a little car collection and I still have some of them to this day. My parents have always let me choose what I wanted, they never forced anything upon me. Whenever I would go to the store I would always have to get a new toy car. As I got older I found myself always hanging out with all the guys because I related more to them.
Society often label girls who hang out with a lot of guys as a hoe. That is not always necessarily true. I do not see why it is not okay for girls to hang out with guys without being labeled a hoe. I was always that little tomboy in my family and I continue to be that tomboy. I am the son my parents never had but always wanted; according to my sister my boy name is Leo. Whenever my dad needs help fixing something whether it be with the car or house I'm always there to help. Who says a girl cannot do things a guy does? I am living proof that a girl is as equal as a guy. Despite always doing my hair and all the lipstick I wear I will always be a tomboy. I just happen to care about how I look.
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Society frowns upon females who take on male roles and quite frankly I could care less because it is my life and I do what my heart desires. Females should not let society tell them what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do. You make the decisions for your life not society. Females run the world, without us no one would be here. Never let anyone stop you doing from what you want to do.
I absolutely agree! As a child, my cousins and I would always get the Barbie dolls for Christmas and the little cooking sets, however, what I truly wanted was the science experiment board games. Traditional parents often abide to the gender roles from the second you're born. Girls are not to be roughhoused. Girls are meant to be clean and looking pretty whereas boys were free to run wild. It is easy for us to think that men are the dominant ones because that is what we are told and brought up with but as we grow up, girls learn that women can be strong and powerful, just like a man. I truly believe that every girl deserves to play with whatever she likes and to choose what she likes to do.
ReplyDeleteQuoting Ms. Cap "God doesn't make Junk". I agree with you that men and women should be equal in the eyes of society, but it is unfortunate that we live in a society were women are looked upon as weak which is interesting to me because the same gender who society refer to as weak are the once who undergo painful child labor in order to bring new life into the world. In our society instead of appreciating women we don’t in order to make them inferior to men. I believe that everyone no matter your gender is important because we are made in the image and likeness of God; therefore we are all-important and have a duty to fulfill and no one has to right to tell anyone otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Many people do fall into these double standards. Like mentioned previously certain colors go with certain genders. The females tend to have the light colors while the boys tend to have the dark colors. I find it very interesting when a guy wears pink that he is seen as being "gay" or feminine. I honestly find guys who were pink to actually be a "man" because he doesn't care about what others think & pink on certain guys make them look so fine. I also feel like the whole toy situation has the most influence. I feel as if there wasn't a set gender to play a certain toy the world would be different. A female would be able to play with dolls to learn about parenting but also be able to play with building toys, cars, and superhero toys. This would help teach the women not only to be a mother and caring but also to learn how to build and fix things and know how to be tough and stick up for herself and others. I know some males become annoyed when they have to fix everything around the house well maybe if your wife was taught how to build when she was younger she would be able to help you out. Just like the guys if they were allowed to play with cars, & building things and along with dolls it would make life for the women a little bit easier. Because the male would have to know how to build and also know how to take care of a child.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to the part when you talk about being a tomboy and always playing with boys. When I was younger I grew up with four boys so that meant playing with cars, riding bikes, getting dirty, and of course them breaking apart all my dolls. Thankfully my family was one that was open to me playing with the boys, but I think this was only because I was the only girl. Sometimes I wonder if there would have been another girl if things would have been different and just as society makes it out to be. Like would my mom and grandparents would have fallen into that "shes a girl and should play with dolls and tea sets" mindset. I personally think that if I was to ever have a daughter I would let her make the choice of playing with whatever she wants and wearing whatever she wants. I would allow my son to do the same. I believe a person is how he or she is because of how they see themselves, and to me that all starts at a young age and develops more at an older age. Girls should just be able to make a name for themselves the way they want.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% ! I was never a " girly girly". According to my mother i was the one girl in school that was never scared of anyone. I always spoke my mind. When i was around the ages of 3-4 I once fought a little boy that keep borthing me in class and i sent him home crying. Women should be able to get the recgonation for their hard work because we do the exact same amount of work that men do. If you ask me we do a little more than the men do. We have to still go to work when having serve cramps and we even work while being pregnant. Men dont have to deal with any of that. We are seen as weak for complaining about cramps but if a man had one little cramp he wouldnt even be able to handle it. He would fall right to the floor. We as women should be paid equal or more for our excellent work in the business world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you so much Devi. As younger child I went to dance school for ballet, tap and jazz probably for 3 years. I was put into dance school so "I wouldn't gain weight ",my mother said , she also put my sisters into the same dance school as me. After while I told my mom I don't want to go dance school anymore and so I decide in 5th grade I wanted to play basketball which some might say is a masculine sport. I loved play basketball so much I played for 4 years straight, my mom didn't mind me playing the sport she thought it was actually good for me. My dad was proud of course to see me do better than most guys who played basketball. My parents taught me at a very young age that boys and girls should always be equal whether if a girl like me like to dance ballet,tap,and jazz and basketball. My sisters and my mom today would consider me as a tomboy just because when we go out to lets say the mall or church I don't get too "dolled up" like them. I personally think it shouldn't matter how I look because what I wear defines who is me, sometimes I just don't like wearing the fancy clothes or make-up to things like the mall or church. I just wouldn't want attention being brought on me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that why can't girl hang out with guys without being called a hoe. I've experienced that in elementary school in 8th grade, I hung out with the guys cause it was less drama and they were more funny and relate-able. Its kind of upsetting that we still live in a society that girls and guys and can't be seen as equal to each other.
I agree with you 100% women are often belittled for the simple fact that they are women and it's crazy to think that this happens on a daily basis to so many girls. Unlike you my parents did not let me play with "boy toys" when I was younger, I remember asking my mom for a mad scientist kit and my mom said no because it was for boys. The whole idea of specific toys,clothes, or tv shows being specifically made for boys or girls being looked down on if they rather spend their time with boys as opposed to girls still baffles me to this day and when I have a child I will not impose society's gender biased thoughts onto them.
ReplyDeleteVery good blog Devi! I agree with the fact that women and young ladies are subjected to only being "girly" because they are meant to be weak. When I was younger, my mother allowed me to play with boys, such as, playing the sport, football. This was and still is my all-time favorite sport. I love the fact that it is a very aggressive sport and that as a female; I can challenge and tackle my male companions. However, from playing that sport, I was consider to be a "tomboy" instead of being someone who loves to play football. I was judge because I was acting out of the "norm" of a female. I should not—especially as a child—be judge for being myself. Society's expectations are the cause of this. I love my mom for the fact that she gave me freedom to be who I am because it showed me that I am just as strong as any male and can play any sport that is consider to be "boyish." She was the first to show me equality although I was very young. However, I do not consider ballet to be a feminine dance. Many guys also do ballet, but society tells us that anything that is peaceful and light is considered to be feminine. When I get older my kids will be able to be whoever they want to be and play with whoever they want to. I will teach my kids to see themselves equal to everyone and will not feel the need to act a certain way because of their gender.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post Devi! I myself preferred to play with girl toys rather than boy toys, my sister on the other hand was the total opposite. She just loved to play football and the girl knows how to throw a football. She was like my older brother's little brother that he never had in my house. It never reallly bothered my parents because my mom was just like her growing up in Nigeria. See my mom always hung out with the guys in Nigeria and she even shaved her head when she was younger. Her father never judge her and growing up in a foriegn country that gender roles where huge, that was a big deal. Another thing that girls who play with boy toys or may dress in "boy" clothes, are labled "tom boys" or "dikes." I think society needs to let go of these gender roles of what boys and girls should play with or not play with. Maybe it is because some parents may be afraid their child may grow up to be a homosexual if they play with toys of the opposite sex. I think society needs to let go of these gender roles and labels and let a child be a child.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Devi! The double standards casted on women in today's society are ridiculous. I believe that as females or just simply as people we should be able to do and choose things as we like. There is absolutely no logical reason as to why we as females should be considered incapable of certain activities, or doing certain jobs. Like you said, you like to help your dad around the house, many people today would view that as a "manly or boyish" thing to do whereas I just view it as you wanting to learn about something or you just wanting to be nice. I believe sexism is a social disease that we'll never escape. We are women should be treated as equal in ALL aspects of life. We're a lot tougher than some may think.
ReplyDeleteWow Devi I liked the part when you said despite the lipstick and the hair. I like Chioma have always been fond of the girly stuff like the Barbies,kitchen sets, the head of the doll and you get to do her makeup. I was a naturally born girly girl , I came fresh out of the womb with a bow on my head. But I know my younger sister she is the complete opposite of me and she likes riding bikes, sports. The only time I like to play with guys are with video games or if they are my cousins who are younger and want to play with Ninja Turtles. I know I am one of those people who say I hope my daughter grows up to be like me- meaning she likes dolls,makeup, she would ask me to get her eyebrows done, her hair done, go prom dress shopping, go on a girls night out and get a mani and pedi. I see my aunt long sometimes for this with her daughter. My aunt has a two boys, and one girl and she is the middle child. Abby the name of the girl insists on playing with her brothers toys the Ninja Turtles, Batman,and cars. Abby's birthday was 6 days ago and her mom had painted her nails for her she didn't really want them painted, later in the day the nailpolish came off and she said to her mom which is my grandma "I think I'm going to take her to get her nails done" my grandma said " Why? she is only 3 and they would charge you full price for that." and then my aunt responded with " I know but she is my only girl." As her only girl she wants to do things with her daughter that girls would like to do or supposed to do. Abby is everything she doesn't want she hangs out with the boys plays with boy toys it is a relief she likes Frozen but who does she like from Frozen - Olaf, I love Olaf as well but most girls like either Elsa or Anna. Society today is acceptable to those people call tomboys and such sorts so that is why now it is not such a big deal but back then your family would be shunned and disgraced. I know now I have to let my daughter if I have one to let her choose her own path in like whether it is playing sports and playing with boy toys. But I also agree on the fact that women and men should be seen as equal and should choose freely what toys they will play with and who they hang out with.
ReplyDeleteVery inspirational Devi! Reading this reminds of the times I used to play soccer with my brother & his friends back in Ghana! No one judged me for doing it. I absolutely agree that we are all human. We all have abilities. Our gender has nothing to do with our interlect. People are smart not because they're a girl or a boy. People are smart because they do their homework. They read and are curious about the world. Gender has nothing to do with smartness and it's wrong for people to think that. Both men & women are endowed with the same capabilities, so why can't a women be a pilot if she wants to? Or a construction worker? Or a cab driver? Or why can't a man be a nurse? Or a stay home dad? We are who we are because we are who we are and not because we are female or male.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Devi, society has put strict gender roles on everything, clothes, toys, characteristics. Girls are meant to be well put together, clean and pretty while boys are permitted to get dirty and play rough. When I was younger my mother and my aunt would dress my cousin Felicia and I in these gorgeous dresses for Easter. After the family attended church, my male cousins would immediately un-tuck their shirts and throw their jackets off and run around. While Felicia and I were told to sit down, “you’ll ruin your hair” “we have to take your pictures.” I believe girls should be treated the same as guys, we should be permitted to play rough and get dirty. There is nothing wrong with running around and being adventurous. Parents and society should allow their children to step outside the box of gender roles and be free.
ReplyDeleteI would say that I agree that we should have the liberty to chose what we want and not have to be put in a box. We should be able to choose if whatever we want to do whether it's play with a doll or play with hot wheel cars. I can also relate to this post because my whole childhood i was a tomboy and always hung out with boys. I was always judged and got made fun of for it. And just because women are more masculine and some men may be a little more feminine does not take away that they are still male and female. Our anatomy automatically separates us from each other so does it really make a difference what we wear or do to distinguish us from each other. Although i think it would be really weird to see men in dresses regularly or women with beards but i feel like society shouldn't brainwash us into having this mentality that to be a women you need to wear heels and dresses, cook and clean and that if you don't you are less than a women.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were discussing this topic in class, we talked about how gender can be viewed as a "social construct." Gender is no longer the biological aspects that make us male or female, but rather the characteristics society attributes to what it means to be feminine or masculine. I think that we all contribute to the separation of the sexes. We tell men that they should force back all emotion and be tough. In the same manner, we tell women that they should not be too aggressive or outspoken because they will threaten men. Most people do not buy young girls Jenga or Lego sets, and we see the effect of such small things in society today--women are not as present as men in engineering and STEM fields. Men are mostly the ones building houses and doing construction work. We teach our kids from the day their born that there should be a distinction between women and men. Although they look cute, young girls are already considered delicate and flowery from the time that their parents dress them in pink clothing with pink everything to match, and boys the same. We need to break free from these divisions and when we do so, we will make great strides toward success.
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