Cause of Gender Inequality
Causes of Gender Inequality
I
should qualify my thoughts on this as we begin to delve into this gender
topic. My background is from a
Judeo-Christian perspective, but at the same time I recognize that there are
natural differences between the sexes.
We often say women are more communicative than men are and there were
some studies that indicate little girls speak before little boys. If we acknowledge feminine traits, as
obviously these have been attested to for thousands of years, why is it strange
to behold them in modern society. The
whole concept of alternative relationships exists because history teaches us
that in civilizations from Egypt to Greece to Modern America there have been
traditional views on relationships based not just on science but practicality
and the survival of the human species.
Quite frankly you need a male and female or egg and sperm to create
another human life, which somehow helps humanity to continue. It is strange to
hear people debate that in our times, but until otherwise proven I think we can
safely assume that formula is tried and true.
Gender and Children
Gender
stereotypes in my opinion are not really a great concern. However, for the sake of the argument, when
we examine children at play do we see some natural differences surface without
the aid of any stimuli? For instance,
when I was a child, I naturally gravitated towards playing sports with the boys
until puberty, when a boy’s gaze alters somewhat. The girls in my social group watched us and
were extremely inquisitive, as well as challenging. I can remember girls learning to ride a bike,
and today we would call them “tomboys”, but it was quite simple in my
youth. There was no confusion about who
was a boy or girl, and what we did in those roles, so to speak, was not
dictated by our gender. Of course, I must
be moderate in my view because my circumstance was not the reality for every
child growing up in the world. However,
I believe there are some similarities that would exist no matter the
environment based on the natural processes of life.
A Changing World
One
of the more interesting findings in the article, “All Teachers Should Be
Trained To Overcome Their Hidden Biases,” by Soraya Chemaly, was the fact
that studies indicated that girls scored higher in math tests.
The
question would be why did the girls monopolize the top students in the class?
Is it because there is some innate gift or because from children, they were
raised in gender roles that favored learning success? I believe that I could have become just as successful
at that time, but other factors played a role. I cite this because of learned
evaluation of my scholastic achievements after high school in other
institutions. I was an average student
at best, and like many boys in high school I did “boy things.”
The
readings and videos emphasize that from early stages of development stimuli on
gender roles has this tremendous influence on outcomes. That very well may have some impact in many
cases, but prior to this concerted effort in society, recently, society marched
along in many nonspecific roles. For
instance, there have been women leaders and monarchs throughout history. If leadership is a male thing only then what
are the anomalies associated with women to be called. Some of the most prominent engineers,
inventors, and scientist that lived are women, and men. If the arts are typically to be associated
with women based upon the link between what we teach young girl and boys, then
why are some of the more famous conductors and musicians’ men, such as
Bach. Yet we see one the most beautiful
performing violinist in the world is a woman from Israel. The point that I am making is that perhaps
there is no need to restructure society based on gender, and instead let the
talents and gifts of the individual shine forth. IF education was truly interested in roles,
then let’s seek to understand the personal interest of children and let them develop
naturally until the point of refinement.
I
return to the point earlier, that absent a shift in concept involving gender
studies, it is undisputable the difference between the sexes, physically and emotionally. These differences are not barriers but rather
compliments, and the basic building blocks of society. By seeking to erase the
difference and re-order them that creates an anarchy of life systems, and we would
be the only species on the planet that purposely destroys the only ecosystem
known to us for our own survival. I
completely understand that teachers have implicit biases, and so do parents regarding
gender and gender roles. The question is
not this, but rather are gender roles the natural consequences of life order,
and if we start tampering with that how will that affect society in the long
term?
References
Chemaly, S. (2022, Febraury 15). All Teachers
Should Be Trained To Overcome Their Hidden Biases. Retrieved from Time:
https://time.com/3705454/teachers-biases-girls-education/
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