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.