Gender equality is a principle that holds that men and women are equal, and, for that, should have access to the same rights, opportunities and, freedoms. In the world today, more people are beginning to embrace this ideology by abandoning traditional methods of personnel selection and training. The world is changing, and while demand for creativity, ingenuity and more progressive thinkers continues to grow, more people continue to realize that there is some sense in treating women with more respect and, in considering them equally able to handle most tasks that men tackle.

However, friction still exists, even from groups of women who present new and modernized concepts. Difference feminists argue that women cannot be equal to men, only different since they are not identical to males, not physically, mentally or in any manner (Swirsky & Angelone, 2016). Nevertheless, the two concepts intersect at some point as both of them fight for the freedom of women in decision-making, for them to be able to move into unconventional career paths and receive the support they need for it.

On the other hand, resistance from men maintains an obscure nature, as a patriarchal society is an inherited problem that has been in existence for the longest time imaginable. Men, therefore, on this account, naturally expect women to be submissive and take care of the home and support the head of the house in somewhat lesser roles. While most individuals are open to change, the general structure of society brings about many challenges in a journey towards equality. However, the situation remains salvageable and through affirmative action, policies and law, gender equality is achievable, where women can now occupy real positions of power enough to significantly contribute to all matters in society.

Position Statement Championing for Gender Equality

In almost all environmental settings, women take on subordinate roles. It is a traditional expectation that women give up their career goals top raise children or make a perfect home in most relationship. In the world today, even though most women are beginning to pierce into the available opportunities for paid employment, their numbers remain considerably low compared to those of their male counterparts (Cambridge, 2019). Currently, women make up almost 40% of the total, formal labor force. However, the public sector continues to lag behind the progress made by private companies to hire female employees in both junior and senior positions.

The gender gap witnessed in most social, political and economic spheres is a result of years of social injustice. Through the years women only get considered in care services and household work. It is high time that female employees get an equal chance at job employment, nomination and appointment into public office and, the general expectation based on gender roles. While there is a considerable dissimilarity between males and females, no evidence exists proving that the former is smarter or more adapted than the latter. This knowledge should, therefore, set precedence for use in affording both genders rights and access to available opportunities in the community.

Laws and policies that champion for affirmative action should be a priority in the fight for equality for they only serve as a way for compensating for the damage done throughout the past. Education is the most significant factor and the driver of change in the current dilemma of the fairness of the sexes. It is crucial that women get training and education so that they can improve their attitudes, self-esteem, and credibility, to bolster the chances of winning the fight for equality. It is, therefore, a fact that men and women have a relatively equal opportunity of being similarly successful in almost all activities. Gender equality is, in light of this, a genuine need in society. The community can satisfy this necessity by offering full support through affirmative action, cooperation from male colleagues and eradication of discrimination in all levels of organization (Van der Gaag, 2014).

Positional Statement against Gender Equality

In the patriarchal society that we live in, it is considerably difficult to convince men that they are equal to women. Biologically, physically, mentally and emotionally, male persons consider themselves stronger than females. From this statement, it, therefore, means that men are naturally cut out to handle strenuous and dangerous tasks. Consequently, it becomes quite difficult for men to consider themselves on the same level as women, even in the hard to prove areas such as intelligence and mental capacity.

In typical social settings, women expect men to make advances in matters courtship and romance. It is a general expectation that men will pay bills in dates, handle household utilities and in family settings, pay school fees. Additionally, in most societies, save for the Indian community, it is an expectation for men to pay the dowry for them to marry their partners. For these social reasons and many others, the fact that women continue to subscribe to these traditions and still attempt to introduce the issue of gender equality becomes a double standard scenario at its best (Chappell & Waylen, 2013).

Also, if men and women were truly and fundamentally equal, affirmative action and women empowerment would not be necessary. Things would settle themselves naturally, and both parties would remain happy and satisfied. If gender inequality exists, then the concerns of this issue are too thick for simple dialogue and discourse. Individuals should evaluate the structure of society and decide where the bone of strife truly resides. In the meantime, gender equality seems impossible or, outrageously utopic.

Call to Action

The two conflicting sides both present substantial evidence that necessitates careful consideration in deciding the facts for this matter. However, the existence of social injustice against women is both provable and undeniable and, for generations, womenfolk have been victims of a social structure designed to rob them of the freedom to make their choices. Since the days of yore, many societies educate boys first before girls. The community expects women to sit at home and prepare food, clean the house and do other regularly subordinate chores. In the world today, the world is evolving, and this transformation begs for interaction and healthy interdependence between the sexes. Therefore it is imperative that society, with the help of organizations, government administrations, and, both sexes, find the means to bridge the existing gender gap.

Bridging the gap implies providing equal opportunities for the sake of a better community and also, to improve standards of living (Waylen, 2014). However, promoting gender equality will not only be a means to ensure adequate utilization of resources in the world but also, fundamentally, a humanitarian effort. Women deserve equal respect and a chance to prove their usefulness in the same way that their male counterparts do. Gender equality is not utopic, and it is undoubtedly achievable if parties are aware of the significance of the matter. Women are not and cannot be identical to men, but their sex should not be the determining factor for their responsibilities, rights, and opportunities. In light of this, individuals should not be hell-bent in proving the equality or, inequality between the two sexes but instead, focus on affording all persons fair chances regardless of their gender.

References

Cambridge, U. (2019). Gender equality in modern times. Retrieved from https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/gender-equality-in-modern-times

Swirsky, J. M., & Angelone, D. J. (2016). Equality, empowerment, and choice: what does feminism mean to contemporary women?. Journal of Gender Studies, 25(4), 445-460.

Van der Gaag, N. (2014). Women are better off today, but still far from being equal with men | Nikki van der Gaag. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/sep/29/women-better-off-far-from-equal-men

Waylen, G. (2014). Informal institutions, institutional change, and gender equality. Political Research Quarterly, 67(1), 212-223.

Chappell, L., & Waylen, G. (2013). Gender and the hidden life of institutions. Public Administration, 91(3), 599-615.