How EQUAL are men and women?

Question

This culture does have mixed messages. I understand men and women are equal as people (human beings) and I would never say a one should walk behind the other , but we are very different . If your different, your not 100% equal. As far as employment, standards have been lowered for women with many physically demanding jobs, but its very wrong to not pay a woman the same money for the same job. This stuff trickles into societal issues though because men get a confusing message when they are still expected(with some exceptions) to treat a woman DIFFERENTLY. Theres that word again, different. How do you women (and men) feel about this? Is equality just the pay, or is there more to it?

Answer 1

We're not equal.
We never have been.
We never will be.

Its not a happy truth..... but it is a permanent one.

Answer 2

A comedian recently stated that gender pay discrepancy is justified as long as men are still expected to be the last one out of a burning house and the last one off a sinking ship... and, until he is not expected to perform such feats of chivalry, a $1.00 pay differential is the least which should be offered.

I think this illustrates the confusion you mention about the proper role men in our society should assume. Equal treatment doesn't always translate to the "same" treatment. Of course men and women possess inherent differences. However, historically, it was not these biological or even physiological differences which dictated better pay to men - it was a societal and community mindset which determined that in order to promote what society felt was best for the family paying men the premium salary was justified in order that the woman could stay home and do what women were "supposed" to do. Also, there was a time not so long ago when society looked at any working woman (not that kind of working girl) as being immoral. There were several jobs which a woman, by law, was forbidden to hold. As predicted, as long as the traditional roles were observed unequal pay was not a prominent issue. With the rise in divorce rate and women's need to financially support themselves, this long-held practice came into focus.

You state, ":if you're different you can't be 100% equal," with which I must disagree. My son and daughter are very different people, but I love and treat them "equally," meaning "fairly" - and I do not discriminate my love or treatment based solely on their gender. Society and the workplace can be the same. Mixed messages? Abundant in relationships, I grant you, but not with this theory. Sure, men and women are different, I for one am glad for that. But, lower pay for the same performance, merely because of ones gender, is unfair and unequal. My desire to receive the same pay for the same work performed does not preclude, and should not confuse the men in my life, when I also desire to be treated as the lady and woman I am. My desire to have a door opened or to receive flowers has no bearing on whether at the end of the day, I performed the same job as a man, yet, received less money to do so.

Answer 3

I agree with everything you said. First let me say that if you are religious, then all babies born are of equal value in the eyes of God. But, no two people in life are equal, even though they may be identical twins, because we all have different life experiences.
Women should get equal pay for equal work and meet equal requirements for all jobs. Both maternity leave and paternity leave should be made available, so raising children is not such a hardship.
That said, I really do appreciate courtesy and gentlemanly behavior. Of course it would be even better if all people were polite and opened the door for weaker and older people and pregnant women, and gave up their bus seats for them.
Aside from that, men and women are very different psychologically and genetically, and we should appreciate the differences, rather than try to cancel them out.

Answer 4

Men and women are equal in worth as human beings. However, they are different from each other as human beings, although in the past those differences have been exaggerated, or used as an excuse to declare one as superior over the other.

A black person and a white person are equal in worth as human beings. However, at the beach, would you expect a black person to pour on his/her skin as much sunscreen as a white person would, just because they are equal in worth? Of course not? Also, from the TV-series MASH, I've learned there's a certain medicine which has a side effect in blacks (and, as later discovered, in Mediterraneans and Jews) that doesn't happen in Nordic whites: the drug causes cramps in darker persons. Does this mean that the black person should take that drug to prove he's equal to the white person? Of course not: in fact, ignoring that difference would be considered racist.

Suppose three women want the same style dress. One is size 6; one is size 16; one is size 26. Because these women are equal in worth, would you get them all a size 10? Of course not! Equality here would mean getting each woman a different size that fits her.

Part of human equality is respecting the legitimate differences.

As far as men and women are concerned, I hope we all agree that all human beings are instrinsically worth the same regardless of gender. However, most men may prefer one way while most women may prefer another. We're beginning to think that boys learn differently from girls; I suspect that with the removal of sexism, girls actually respond better to current academic methods that boys do. Would it be sexist to adjust academic styles so that boys could learn, too? No, as long as the girls were also able to learn just as well.

As far as common courtesy goes, anyone should hold a door open for anyone, but I think it makes a man feel more manly if he holds a door open for a woman; it's the provider thing or the hero thing. Anyone should give up his/her seat for a pregnant woman, or for anyone with a broken leg.

Answer 5

Men and women are not the same, but they're both people.

It's not right to pay one gender or race of person on average 30-50% less than another. The "glass ceiling" still exists: women on average still earn less than men for the same kind of work & same education.

I do not agree with your assertion that physical standards are lowered. The only exception might be military duty, but they treat people so poorly they're desperate to get anyone to enlist.

Most better jobs in the US don't require lots of physical labor anyway. The physically demanding jobs such as construction worker are not usually going to pay well or offer many advancement opportunities.

Answer 6

Salaries amongst men doing similar work are varied; so you cannot expect to compare men and womens salaries.
Men are now given the same family leave (with the exception that women are given additional time off because of the actual physical birthing of the child) as women.
It is confusing, especially because all women are not feminists.
Gullible young women can become feminist, but they won't get far in life. They will have to learn to stand on their own and take responsibility for their actions; or women like me will put them in place.
We are in a transisitional period. Succesful women are putting families aside to tend to their careers. Feminists are claiming that they should be handed their career because they "had" to stay home with kids.
If you lie down, guess who will prevail. As a man, you should demand equal treatment.
If a woman comes to work with her thong and half of her azz hanging out of her jeans, then tell your supervisor (don't say anything to her) that you feel uncomfortable and harrased by her obviously intentional provocation.

Answer 7

men and women are different. they should be treated equally, but not the same. men are generally physically stronger and less emotional than women. there is always the exception to the rule though. if a man and woman are performing the same job in the same workplace they should get equal pay.

Answer 8

we should be equal, but in alot of ways we're not truly equal. Pay is a good example of how women are not treated equally, since we are not paid as much for the same job as men are. People should all be treated the same. Men are usually rougher with eachother than with women, but not always. But, as confusing as it must be for men, you guys still have it better than we do.

Answer 9

Men and women are, GENERALLY, different. Women TEND to be better nurturers and communicators, while men TEND to be better at visualizing and physical jobs.

Of course there are many women who are more capable physical labourers than many men. And vice-versa.

I don't think it is wrong to recognize that differences exist between the genders, but unfortunately if you don't force employers into equal-hiring practices, it is quite likely that unfair hiring would occur.... so it's a tough one.

Answer 10

women are different from men. men are different from other men. women are different from other women. Nobody is the same.

As far as work goes. I believe in equal pay. If a woman can do the job she deserves the same respect as the man.

Answer 11

we are equal, just for the fact that we are all humans. but i know what you mean, society has made all these exceptions. do this in this situation or that because of something else. as long as each person is treated with respect, things will just work out.