Gender roles have to be one of the most controversial topics that has graced humanity. Because the more people learn and get educated, the better they want for themselves. The thing is, many people believe that the roles of men and women in society are set in stone, like they were ordained by the creator, and as such, going against such principles would be taboo.
But that’s not the case; the older I get, the more I see that such rules and policies are only made to protect the system at the time they’re made. And many of such rules end up becoming traditions and cultures, even when they’re not beneficial to anyone anymore. Today, we have so many rules governing social media, these rules were made because of how social media is prevalent today, and there’s a need to protect the system and everyone using it. Thirty years ago, such rules didn’t exist. Thirty years from now, there will be those who will be clamoring for a change of such rules. A hundred years from now, they will be archaic, and people will wonder why they’re still taking such things seriously.
So, why am I saying all this? The disparity in gender roles is something that has been passed down to us. Because right from time, it was a system that worked and everyone respected. Even enemies. During the old days, the men went out to work while the women stayed at home to care for the children. Men went to wars while the women cared for the village. There has to be a reason why when villages and cities were conquered in the past, they killed all the men, but left the women and children. Or when there’s a major crisis, priority evacuations are given to women and children. It could be a biological reason, it could be something else. Either way, we inherited it.
But then, in today’s world, when we’re all civilized and smarter, it’s sad to see that many people still suffer gender inequality. There are some roles that are exclusive strictly to women, and some that are only for men. Men and women in the same job and level don’t earn the same. And many men have trouble answering to female superiors. It’s really crazy, if you ask me. It’s as if it’s been hardwired into some brains to view people in one way, and then resist the urge to see them as anything else.
Well, for me, I’ve always been pro-equality. All my life, I’ve been surrounded by some of the strongest and proudest women on earth, and this isn’t cap. I’d never be one to support a system that seeks to put any woman down. I believe in fairness for fairness's sake, and not fairness just to make a political point. There are still people today who think that career-driven women would make bad partners. I shake my head.
I believe in equality for all. What’s good for the goose should also be good for the gander. People keep saying that a man and a woman are built different, and can’t be considered equal. Yeah, we know we’re built differently, but that doesn’t mean things can’t be fair. Everyone should get their due. A woman shouldn’t wash the dishes or cook the food simply because ‘she’s a woman’, a man shouldn’t work his ass off and make money simply because ‘he’s a man’.
I’ve noticed that when you reduce your entire being into one tiny role, when you put yourself into a box that society has provided for you, you never really get fulfillment or happiness. As a man, you don’t just get to be a provider or a glorified ATM. You can actually be a father as well, you can be a husband, friend... your role doesn’t end with paying bills. In the same way, a woman’s role doesn’t end in the home. The world is vast and wide enough to accommodate everyone. We can all shine together; we can all rise by lifting others.
The rules of the old days don’t work anymore; we’ve outgrown them. And in this big 2025, asking for equality is not a stretch; it’s important. The request is not to get equal pay, the request is to be treated equally. The criteria one gender meets should be the same that would be demanded from the other gender. Nothing should be given or withdrawn simply because of “he’s a man” or “she’s a woman”.
We still have a long way to go. But so far, we’re doing well!
