For years, there has been an obvious discrepancy between men’s and women’s rights. There were laws prohibiting women’s voting, right to education, legal rights and other such atrocities, but I wonder if now the pendulum of equality has crossed — once more — beyond the center divide.
Contrary to current belief, early feminists set out to gain equality between sexes, not to proclaim women as the superior sex.
From what I have observed, women have used their newfound freedom to fall into the exact same habits as their male predecessors.
Young women feel entitled to participate in frequent male-bashing behavior, stiffen at the mere suggestion that men are superior in some instances and, all the while, neglect to see that they are no longer the ones being oppressed — they’re the oppressors.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I do not believe we should ever return to the days of male despotism. But is it so much to ask for both sides to treat each other with respect?
There are quite a few instances of this newfound inequality on campus starting with the big white house known as the Women’s Center. Here is a place that provides sisterhood and encouragement for all the women on campus. But, I ask, where is there for men to go for encouragement? The weight room?
Then there is the frequent male-bashing I see on a daily basis. “Men are like bank accounts: The bigger they are, the more interest they earn,” one T-shirt proclaims. Another says, “Men are like lava lamps: fun to look at, but not all that bright.”
It’s not all right to objectify women, so when did it become all right to objectify men?
Men’s magazines such as Playboy and Maxim are seen as downright disgusting, yet women’s fascination with shirtless men is represented in everything from Cosmo to our little sisters’ J-14. It’s seen as normal and expected — even downright cute — to have your walls plastered with Robert Pattinson or a shirtless Taylor Lautner.
The words “man candy” and “boy toy” have become so mainstream that we often don’t give a second thought as to how these can translate to the men in the room. I think it’s safe to say he doesn’t want to be objectified as your “play toy” or “walking ATM” any more than you want to be seen as his “arm candy” or “that girl he bangs.”
The fact of the matter is, no one sex should be considered the superior sex. No one gender should be given the right to look down on the other just because they might have been oppressed in the past.
After all, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Men have certain strengths and women have certain
strengths; there is a biological reason we cannot do the same things with the same amount of efficiency and the sooner we realize that the better.
Women: Yes, I completely understand that you are capable of carrying that giant stack of boxes into the house. But wouldn’t it be easier if you let a man help you and it got done 20 minutes faster?
And men, I am well-aware that you’re capable of finding your way to the destination all on your own. But if you would let your significant other give you a little help with a map, you wouldn’t arrive 15 minutes late and down four gallons of gas.
In the end, men and women need to realize the strengths each respective gender possesses and stop worrying so much about being seen as “equal.” Striving for equality in all aspects of life is both unrealistic and detrimental to society’s functioning.
Learn to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of both sexes and give all people — male or female — the respect they deserve.
Rachel Sayers is a freshman studying journalism and a columnist for The Post. Are you tired of gender stereotypes too? Let Rachel know with an email to rs289910@ohiou.edu.
