Is Gender Equality really Equality?

So this past week in my class - we talked about the significance of gender roles. Since the beginning of human history in different cultures across the world, Men and Women have had different roles. The Role of protector, the role of leader the role of nurturer. Since the feminist movement, the world, especially the united states, has been seemingly fixated with the idea of "equality" between the sexes.

I understand the importance of equal opportunity between men and women. In fact, I believe that regardless of sex, race or nationality - the same standards should apply in whatever situation, to all individuals. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that rules should be bent to make it easier for individuals to get into competitive fields just because their different - that is not providing equal standards for all - but everyone should be on the same level playing field and have to work hard for what they want.

So how does equality apply to gender? Why am I talking about equality when it comes to gender? For me, I feel that the idea of "Equality for all" has gone a bit too extreme. It has gone from trying to obtain equal rights between the sexes, to the point that the world is pushing women to "escape" from the nurturing role of mother and take the role that men have classically had, making the men in the world for the most part expendable.

My perspective on this is that the world has begun to diminish and even destroy the value of classic male and female roles. A woman may even be looked down upon for choosing the role of a stay at home mom. She may have been seen as forfeiting her dreams - of being uneducated or lacking ambition. Either way, today's world has looked down on the classic role of a wife and mother.

But what happens to the role of the man in this situation? Well - simply put, women are replacing the roles of men, as the breadwinners, providers and even protectors. When this happens, the man's role in the family is little more than a sexual partner to satisfy lusts and procreation.

Its quite a sad situation, the world that we live in today, where we've focused so much on equalizing the sexes, that we've forgotten or even demeaned the beauty and value of their unique differences. I have found so much beauty in the different traits and roles between men and women. Men and women, when we look at the classic relationship, was a trust or bond that led the man and woman to compliment each other's natural character. It's a beautiful thing.

I am for equal opportunities for men and women in the world - but I am against men and women being looked down upon or pressured by the world into fulfilling roles that may or may not be natural to them. Eveyone has the right to choose, but no one should be pressured one way or the other. I think its important that we keep in mind the positive effects that either side gives us.

Does Same-Sex Marriage Really Affect Children?

     There have been so many studies over the years regarding different family systems, in particular the effects of different families on children. These studies are measured by correlations between different family structures and the success of children in various areas such as: education, drug abuse, chances of being physically abused, and even success in future relationships with divorce rates.

      For example, families with both the mother and father married in the home statistically do much better overall in categories. While in homes without the father present, (ex: Single mother homes, foster homes, and/or living with extended family) tend to have much higher rates of poverty, crime and abuse. However, this does not mean that if you are a single mother that you are going to be guaranteed failure for the upbringing of your children, as well as all mother-father homes are guaranteed success. Nevertheless, one must acknowledge the fact that the family structure in which a child is raised does have a significant impact on their success in the future. Even the very race and ethnic background of a family seems to present patterns to children's general development.

    More recently debates have arisen regarding same-sex parenting. Various studies have claimed that there is no difference between same-sex marriages and mother-father marriages on their effects on children -- but not only has it been revealed that the majority of these studies have had very small study groups - limiting the accuracy of their findings, but they have a large chance of biases as well.

   I believe it is thoughtless for anyone - no matter their moral position - to assume that ANY change in the family structure, especially something that has never been done within past generations,  will have no effect  the development of the children in the said family structure. I base this upon the fact, that all other research indicates variation, the majority negative, within family structures that are NOT the mother-father married model.

Recent studies have pointed out the flaws in research done on same-sex marriage, as far as biases go. While, now new studies are beginning to show that perhaps negative effects do take place (perhaps even taking a spot statistically lower than single-mother homes)  -- but their has simply not been enough research on the issue, and non-biased organizations, need to carefully tract information.

I believe, like all other variations in the family from the traditional model (mother-father marriage) -- same-sex marriage will have a negative effect on upbringing of children. But who's to say where it will fall, or how different it will be from any other 2 parent home. That is why more research must be done on the issue.