Woman

Are women and men equal in our society? Why or why not?

Women's Rights establish the same social and economic status for women as

for men. Women's rights guarantee that women will not face discrimination on the basis

of their sex. Until the second half of the 20th century, women in most societies were

denied some of the legal and political rights according to men. Although women in much

of the world have gained significant legal rights, many people believe that women still do

not have equality with men. This is evident in the home, workplace, and society in

general.

Look no further than the home to see the first sign that men and women are not equal.

The traditional role of man was to work and make the money, which would be used by all

in the household. The traditional role of the woman was to stay home, take care of the

children, clean the house, and cook. Because society has always associated money with

power, the person bringing home the money had the power. The man often makes the

final decision on all household matters because he has the money.

The workplace is another place where men and women are not equal. Men are often

applauded for being assertive and giving orders. By giving orders, men are taking

a leadership role. Demonstrating leadership ability is a quality that employers often look

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for. On the other hand, women who are assertive and give orders are not well liked in the

work place. For women to be well liked in the work place, they have to be subordinate to

the men. The salary of men and women who do the exact same work differ. Women

often make less than men even though they do the exact same thing. In 1990, the median

income was $29,172 for men and $20,586 for women. There are many gender stereotypes

associated with certain jobs. Secretaries, nurses, and maids are associated with women.

Corporate executives, lawyers, doctors, politicians, and construction workers are

associated with men.

Society as a whole has also contributed to the problem. It starts at the hospital when a

baby is born. Boys get blue blankets while girls get pink blankets. Toys are targeted at

either boys or girls. Toys that are targeted at boys include trucks, blocks, guns, and

soldiers. Toys that are targeted at girls include dolls, kitchen utensils, and doll houses.

Boys are raised to be aggressive,