Gender Equality
@Olorire (53)
Nigeria
July 28, 2019 11:41am CST
There's been a lot of clamouring to varying extents globally for gender equality especially empowerment of women. Its been long overdue really but I wonder if we are going about it correctly. Is equality really what we need? And how has the results been so far in our societies?
First of all what is equality? In very layman terms, I'd say its the exhibition of the saying "what is good for the goose is good for the gander". In our societies, we have tried to do this by giving all genders "equal opportunities". I feel this approach is a little too simple. I think what we actually need is gender equity and not equality. This is because, equality at times can be unfair.
For example, if you have a son and daughter who are both teenagers and you got your son a console as a gift. Equality dictates that your daughter deserves a console too. But not as many females like to play video games. Your daughter might not like video games. It is only right that you get your daughter something she likes that is about equivalent in value to what you got your son or vice versa.
So, whereas equality would have meant getting your son and your daughter the same gift, equity means getting them gifts of equal or similar value that they would but cherish.
Lets go further, in sports, equity is practiced subconsciously. Men and women are built differently physically and hence sports is segregated according to gender. Imagine female sprint athletes contesting against male sprint athletes, thats actually equal opportunity but thats unjust and not equity.
Imagine female and male prisoners sharing the same prison rooms. I think you get the picture.
Also, this equality of a things seems to have taken a negative toll on society somehow. On social media, one easily notices some females wanting to go up against males at any opportunity. We are all supposed to be on the same team and not against each other.
So my conclusion is that; Life is complex and has always been complex. A simple blanket solution like equality is too weak. Each scenario has to be examined, its peculiarity respected in order to find the right way to go about a solution (equity).
9 people like this
8 responses
@YuleimaVzla (1505)
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
28 Jul 19
I am in favor of gender equality, in fact that was my degree thesis at the university and I also worked as a municipal defender of gender violence, on the subject I would contribute millions of things of my empirical knowledge, but beyond that, it is the even ignorance on the part of society that sometimes this issue still exists today among the most controversial worldwide
1 person likes this
@YuleimaVzla (1505)
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
29 Jul 19
@Olorire Gender equality must be more exploited and that is due to our laws in the world, so that fewer people even in the middle of the century think and rescue that we are not able to do all the things that the other opposite genre performs and sees, The problem is culture, in Latin America, many homes where boys do not do household things because they are men and girls do not allow them to think about things like football or baseball, they are usually mitigating homes and creators of this erratic ideology.
@Olorire (53)
• Nigeria
29 Jul 19
@YuleimaVzla what about the limitations of equality? What if you decide to pursue a career in boxing tomorrow and youre told that women are to compete against men? I think equality is too flat and narrow. It fails to recognise the uniqueness of every seperate scenario. The issues you've pointed out can also be solved infact better solved with equity..
1 person likes this
@Olorire (53)
• Nigeria
29 Jul 19
Haha.. Thank you. Best of luck raising your daughter into an amazing woman
@Olorire (53)
• Nigeria
29 Jul 19
I think sometimes in the society, people get a little selfish and thats what leads to people confusing the two. In a scenario where equality would favour one gender more, you find some members of the gender thats feel favoured asking for equality at the moment. However, when equality woould favour one gender less, you find the gender demanding equity. Lol. It's not really hard to figure out really..
@Nakitakona (56486)
• Philippines
29 Jul 19
Good explanation about equality and equity as to their difference and usage. It's very clear.
1 person likes this
@psanasangma (7288)
• India
29 Jul 19
I believe for some cases along with equality equity need to be apply
@Olorire (53)
• Nigeria
29 Jul 19
Actually, that's what equity is. Equality + common sense. I think we are saying the same thing. We need to recognise each individual case's peculiarities. If equality is the sensible thing in that case, then equity demands equality in that case. Or what do you think?
