On Gender Equality and Equal Rights

Posted by Janvic | Posted in | Posted on 2:03 PM

On Gender Equality and Equal Rights (SUSI New Media Techniques I output/07-01-10)

I stand with my belief that the idea of “equality” between men and women is unattainable. The thought, simply, is very subjective, if not, ideal.

Over the years, the issue of gender equality has always been a part of discussions in communities, classrooms and even the Congress. And while many tend to believe that once laws giving equal rights for men and women are passed, “equality” will follow suit. I don’t think it works that way.

Culture and tradition, among others, are playing a big role in this subject. The Philippines is a Catholic nation, and I personally believe that this religion strengthen the existence of machismo culture in our country. In contrast to that, several pre-Christian religions who believe in the importance of women in the society also exists in the Philippines. One way or the other, it is most likely that a particular gender would appear dominant.

I advocate equal rights between men and women. And that would mean I would not offer a seat to a lady unless she is pregnant, has a child with her, has a disability or an elderly. But that doesn’t seem to be a good move in a culture where every women expects to have a gentleman offering her a seat. This is contradicting the idea that women wanted equal rights. They, after all, in the said scenario, are not for equal rights but for special treatment. This special treatment, as my feminist professor puts it, is a self, social or cultural oppression that a lot of women in the Philippines are experiencing.

Men, sometimes, also experience this inequality. In several cases in the Philippines, women who are dominant in a group were dubbed as “patriarchal” – stereotyping men as dominant.

Victoria Shannon’s article (Equal Rights for Women? Survey Says: Yes, but…/NY Times: 2010) interestingly notes the gender inequality despite the presence of equal rights. Women, while they can have a job, are also expected to shoulder major responsibilities at home. This is a fundamental thought that proves the fact that while equal rights can be established, equality between men and women is a far-fetched idea.

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comment check.. hmm

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