For equality of the sexes:?

Question

For women to actually be taken seriously, in all areas, and to be treated as equals in all areas, what changes must women as a group make; or is the opposite more true, what changes do the males in power need to make, and why would they do that?

Unattractive and unfriendly, and may I assumme you mean overly assertive; wow, what a recipe for [not] getting ahead in the world or having a very good life.

To Zora, I agree with what you are saying, but the fact is, I believe, women are not taken as seriously as their male counterparts. The legalities are in place, but my question was WHAT could be done to bring about the equality; I like the answer about equity so far, smart lady.

Answer 1

"Equal does not mean the same." I think someone missed the point of this statement. Look at it like a basic math problem.

Men and women will never be equal like this: 4 = 4
But they can be equal like this: 2+2 = 1+3

Both examples are equal, but the methods are different. To me, equality is about balance. If the majority can value the importance of each gender's strengths, then we will have equality.

How do we attain this? For women, we need to help each other to value ourselves. If we don't value ourselves, men won't either. We need to make traditionally female roles more visible, and demonstrate the importance they have on society. If you look at traditionally female jobs, you'll find that they are often underpaid and under-respected. Teacher vs. Professor, Nurse vs. Doctor, Secretary vs. Salesperson - and yet, teachers have an even greater impact on our next generation than professors, nurses are responsible for the day to day well being of their patients, and secretaries (or administrative professionals as we so politely call them now) keep the office running smoothly. And what about mothers and housewives? Possibly the most under-respected, not to mention completely unpaid female role, and yet they're teachers, economists, accountants, dieticians, psychologists, doctors, chauffeurs, and janitors, all at the same time.

Finally, women need to stop perpetuating the "men are more important" myth. I've experienced sexism from women nearly as often as I have from men. For example, I had tires replaced on my car, and two of them had problems within a month. I'm not knowledgeable about cars, so I asked my brother to accompany me to the tire place to be my "bullsh*t detector." He didn't speak a word, but at the end of our discussion, the female manager reached past me to shake his hand first.

As far as what men in power need to do, they need to understand that we are different in every possible way. Physically, we are different, and yet medically we're only just beginning to be treated as something other than a man with a missing part. Heart attacks in women, for example, have different symptoms, and yet most major studies are based on male physiology. We think differently, and can bring new ideas to the table. We are more empathetic, and can understand the emotional impact of our actions. Men need to learn to value the contributions made by their spouses, their mothers, their sisters, their female co-workers. These differences don't make women more important, just equally important.

I believe that people, both male and female, are learning to value the differences. Equality can only benefit both sexes, because when we combine our abilities, together we are even stronger.

Answer 2

There will never be total equality of the sexes. Women and men can try, but it's not going to happen. Women are better at some things and men are better at some things. It's a reality we need to deal with and move on.
I think there should be equal respect and equal pay, but true equality is a pipe dream. Women need to learn how to respect themselves as women and know that they are capable of so much more than they give themselves credit for. Once a woman can respect herself as a person and a woman, than she can realize that it's ok to have differences and it's ok to have a man open a door and reach something for her off of that high shelf and not be insulted by a man doing these things for her.

Answer 3

You have to understand that women as a group don't need to do anything, because they are a legitimate political subjects who deserve equal rights and equal opportunities. If some culture doesn't take women seriously, then there is a big problem in that culture. As individuals, the only thing that women should learn is to KNOW and NEVER FORGET that they have equal rights and deserve to be respected and taken seriously.

Answer 4

I disagree that equality between the sexes cannot exist. I believe that fairness can exist between the sexes (and even more important between people). Equal is not always fair. (i.e if we all had to take a driving test with no glasses, that is equal, but not fair. Allowing everyone to wear glasses to see appropriately, that would be fair). If everything was equal then my wife would have to help me cut firewood, and I would have to help her do laundry (I'm colorblind, tried it and am henceforth banned from the laundry room by the Mrs.) Instead we work as a team, she does the color matching and I pick up big heavy objects, everyone wins beacuse its fair, not equal. we should access people for their strengths and weakness and allow them to use those to the best of their ability.

Answer 5

As a freshman in college, I took a writing course and wrote an essay about equality of the sexes. In further discussion with the professor (herself a woman), she said something that kept me thinking about it all these years: "Being equal does not mean being the same." Therefore, after much thought and observation, I submit that the sexes can try to be equal, but because they are not the same, it's impossible to achieve. Women prefer for men to hold doors for them, to propose to them, to buy them flowers. Because the sexes aren't the same, they aren't going to be equal. If men are expected to hold doors for women and not vice-versa (face it, it's true), then are men inferior to women? I think women should have the same opportunities and rights as men, but when you factor some of the unique things that stem from women and men not being the same (such as childbearing, for example), it will never work. Also, it is clear to me that there are professions that women should never enter because men are just better at them and are designed better for them (construction or front-line police work, for example) and vice-versa. So, I guess I'm all for fairness and respect between the sexes, but as for sheer equality, it is not possible or reasonable to achieve.

Answer 6

Men and women are physiologically different. That's just nature. We should only be concerned with equality under law. That doesn't mean men and women are the same. Men excel at somethings and women excel at other things. We compliment each other, not overlap each other.

Answer 7

I believe equality is impossible. Men and women should be in search of equity, not equality.

Answer 8

See, women have been fighting forever to get equal rights and they still haven't got it.Do you know why? Because they need a man to get it for them, they can't do it their selves.If they would just ask a guy to get it for them they would have been equal long ago.

Answer 9

If women wants to be taken seriously they will have to become unattractive and unfriendly and assertive