How can there ever be gender equality when both genders are so different?

Question

Do you ever wonder why men and women are so different and why they often have so many problems being together? Is it because they are so different and want and need different things? How can we ever be truly equal? Even though we may get along, men and women are so different. We both want and need different things. I know, on the other hand differences can be a good thing because it adds interest and variety, how can we ever say men and women are truly equal?

Answer 1

As much as I personally would love to see gender equality, I don't think it will ever happen. There are many people out there that could handle gender equality but there are still some women out there who like to play the part of the damsel in distress. I think unfortunately it will be people like that who will stop complete gender equality!

Answer 2

Gender equality means things like a woman having the same chance as a man when applying for a particular job. It's also been extended into an area called "equal pay for work of equal value". I don't agree with that last concept as I feel the marketplace is the best determiner of what a job is worth.

I think women often train and take jobs that pay less because they don't want to do the more difficult jobs as they don't feel the same economic pressure that men do. I.E. they don't see their incomes as having to be the primary income for a family. They see it as a supplementary income.

That isn't to say that they weren't some inequities in the past such as where men and women would work at the same company doing the exact same job and yet women would be paid less than the men. We've come a long way since then.

Pretty soon women will be allowed to vote!

Answer 3

I think the biggest confusion is that we equate being equal with being exactly the same which in short is not the case. Men and Women have different emotional makeup and thus it give them certain talents in certain areas.

For example, my wife and I have different roles in the family. I am the breadwinner and she is the nurturer. This does not mean I cannot help with dinner or she help in things that I do. We are members of a team. Equal in importance. It's like football, you need both receivers and running backs. It doesn't make one or the other more important.

I guess to be truly equal is to see the talents each gender posseses and work together for an ultimate good.

Answer 4

What a good question -- wish more men / women thought about these things...

Instead of wondering why men / womern are different I think it is better to just accept that they are and celebrate the woderful things about the differences (kind of like wonderingabout why a bulldog is different than a poodle -- they just are!)

As far as the equality thing goes -- equal to me means giving each equal respect, love and treatment as you would want to be treated. I can offer this to either a man or a woman, I offer them these things from one human to another.

The problem has been when women as a whole were not treated by others (men) as they wodl want to be treated. But that is such an outdated view of the world now, I see it as mostly men now that are treated badly because the feminist movement granted women the ability to treat men poorly and fall back on the premise that they are empowered now and able to dish it out too.

When men come to appreciate the tenderness, nurturing abilities that are mnore inherent in women and women the warrior, more simple emotional state of men, then I think we will be in a better place. That is not to say that there are not nurturing men or warrior women; it is just a celebration of the common traits that are typical in each sex and a respect for each individual person and their specific traits regardless of sex.

I hope that made sense and thanks for asking such an insightful question! ;)

Answer 5

Equal doesn't mean the same.

Gender equality means recognizing that all characteristics of both genders have value, and not valuing one over the other. Not saying, for example, that women are too emotional to make good decisions. Rather, recognizing that women do sometimes think differently than men, and that both perspectives are valid and deserve consideration.

It's also important not to prejudge people--not to think that all men or all women are the same, but rather to hear what they have to say first. I think if you really look at individual cases, you won't find that men and women are that different. I think my husband and I are quite a bit alike. There are certainly no more differences between the two of us than there are between me and many of my girlfriends.

Answer 6

I don't think differences necessarily mean that there can't be equality. Differences are just that, things that aren't the same. Women and men can have the same value without being an exact copy of each other, though many people still fail to realize the importance of women and how equality hasn't been reached.

To accept any differences and move towards equality in terms of anyone, minorities, the GLBTQ community, women, those in poverty, we have to embrace the differences and realize that different doesn't mean we can't all have the same worth.

Answer 7

Equal doesn't mean the same. The genders can be complementary to each other, but it's interesting how in different cultures what you think belongs to one gender as a behaviour, belongs to the opposite gender elsewhere. Equality should mean respect for all regardless, and equal pay for comparative work. Physical strength or stamina should not be the only criteria to determine pay scales, but each person doing what they can with their gifts or training to overall harmonious functioning. In North America there is still the glass ceiling so fewer women relatively get to the upper levels of management, and it's not because of their lack of skills or training. That equality or lack thereof needs to be addressed, but it does not mean the same job the same way by the same person..

Answer 8

Being 'Equal' does not mean that we must all be identical. I think the argument is for equal rights and opportunities; rather than to actually be the same...

(1 + 6 = 2 + 5 = 3 + 4 All equal each other, but they are all different!)

Answer 9

Look at the Earth .Why do not you think that what emerges out of Her looks so different physically. Out of the woman emerges a physical aspect which is called man. Man when matured has the urge to merge into the woman because this is the COSMIC LAW.It can not be merely called sex and ignored.
I as a man look at the earth and a woman in the same vision and find that there will be no concept Worth mentioning without both of them.
The spiritual visions of men have exploited and ignored women and motherhood in totality.
Ask a new born male , who is innocent, where does it belong, it is the woman or thew mother.
SHE can be called Supreme-Heavenly-Earth. All the religion are unanimous in accepting that woman and earth are same but go astray in to imagination by creating images of God in male form.Like the earth looks after the needs of every creation a woman wants to cater to every loving aspect of the family. There is no difference any where but only the difference in the human concept of reality. Woman or female is the reality of all around existence.Let woman accept themselves as the sustainers of this world of mankind and their imaginary Gods .Once the earth is recognized and given due status in all the religions women too will find their rightful place. This is the only way to survive on this planet. LOVE-BOND with all is the only [e-mail]

Answer 10

We are truly equal in a sense. Like... we can vote. We are equal and we arent. Its difficult. We have the same potential as men and vice versa.

Women cry equality but dont stand up in fights with other men? Its a social barrier in our culture today.

I do believe actually, we truly are equal. We do think the same. We are made of the same flesh and blood even if it may be distributed differently in different spots.

We make ourselves equal because we both have ambition to strive for greater things.

Answer 11

There really should never be a debate. The women are the stronger gender. The RIB is bone will the ability to with hold crushing power, think of the strength that women where created with. Men could never be equal to women, I don't know a man that could with stand child bearing, let alone carry a child within him for nine months. We where created as individuals, with different thoughts, needs, feelings, abilities. Problems come when individuals attempt to change that. Believing in yourself and being accepted for who you are.