Will gender equality emasculate men?

As women move closer to true equality, some are asking, will gender equality emasculate men?

Society must begin by acknowledging these rights or authority given by God and men that they were born into have influenced the treatment of women. As a result, society and the government system have allowed men to hold the power and exclude women from it.

The system has historically placed the men at the top of the universe, favoring men and excluding women. Gender equality can begin when men become willing to surrender their power and privileges. This system has forged unequal power between the genders for many years. Gender inequality exists in most countries in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres, and is a regressive system that must be challenged.

According to the historical recordings in the bible it is found in 1 Corinthians 11:3 -But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman [is] the man; and the head of Christ [is] God.

How can there be equality if the male will always be the Head?

Will equality ever exist?

Can equality emasculate a man?

The term 'gender' itself is a social construct that describes specific pre-defined roles and responsibilities for both men and women. Gender equality means that men and women should have equal power and opportunities for various resources, financial independence, education, and personal development. The lack of gender inequality has created many movements to help make changes with the rise of women becoming equal throughout history.

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‘A Political View’

By Sherry Holliman SHERRY HOLLIMAN (cont.)

Gender equity is the process of being just and fair to every woman and man. Adequate measures and strategies must be available to pay off for women's historical and social disadvantages that have prevented both women and men from operating on an even playing field to ensure such fairness. Some people believe that eventually, equity leads to equality. As women make movements to create opportunities for themselves, they are breaking barriers of ensuring gender equality is empowering women. Such empowerment signifies focusing on identifying, acknowledging and levelling out power imbalances and giving women greater autonomy and freedom to manage their own lives. This includes equal gaining access to training and all that is required to make them independent and selfreliant.

Everyone should acknowledge that there are several issues hindering gender equality. The most significant of all is that women are deprived of the decision-making roles and are left to raise a family and complete household chores. These expectations have deprived them of economic freedom and allowed today’s society to still consider the men breadwinners.

In similar workplaces, women are slowly breaking the glass ceiling to get through to the top management roles with lower pay for equal work. It is important for women to achieve gender equality to ensure decision-making processes are maintained and available at local and public levels. It also requires them to gain access to resources equally as men, so that both genders can participate equally in ensuring productivity and welfare of society. Many people also believe that gender equality will create a negative masculinity for men by encompassing pressure to outperform women and not make mistakes.

Fulfilling this social role leads men to high levels of stress and conversely, an accumulation of emotions, one being the ‘macho’ attitude. But unfortunately, men and some women in certain organizations have massively underestimated women’s power to create change and to benefit their whole community. In the absence of gender equality between man and woman, society will not develop and prosper fully. In such situations, the truth is that gender biases and stereotypes will continue to dominate the societal mindset that drives women to the dark corridors of domestic violence, and deprivation of all economic rights. Although women and some men are raising awareness of the male power and privileges, our next generation must continue the movements to help acknowledge and make changes with the current discrimination that women are presently facing.

Every movement matters, they show progress, this will not stop the perpetuation of those forms of oppression but it will slowly remove some barriers.

Movements are necessary to stand with issues to prevent future struggles for the eradication of prejudices and discrimination for everyone to have access to equal freedom, equal respect and equal power. It is fair to believe that the historical root causes of discrimination and inequality will always exist.

Sherry Holliman is a concerned citizen of Crittenden County and has some views on a variety of topics that she wants to share with her neighbors. She serves on the Marion City Council.