An open dialogue about gender inequality...
It has been difficult not to notice just how many males have become fed up with feminism or "female privilege". I wish that we could have an open dialogue about gender inequality without either side balking at the remarks of the other side. I'm speaking as a female citizen of the USA and I am not intending to speak for other countries.
I think it would be wise to distinguish RIGHTS from PRIVILEGES. SHOULD women have the right to access contraceptives? Of course. Questioning whether or not someone should have access to reasonably priced prescription medication is, at best, slightly callous. Is being PROVIDED medication that, for the most part, is not necessary for survival, at another person's expense a right? That sounds more like a privilege or benefit to me.
Should women have the right to wear whatever they want and conduct their sex lives however they want? Of course! Should they be free from negative judgement? That would violate everyone else's first amendment rights. Should changing public opinion about "sluts" be a priority? Sure, but you can do this without resorting to shaming male behavior.
What I WOULD like to see change is both public perception about women being the "weaker" sex and for women to quit feeding into the part. Advocating that men need to protect women because they are women rather than advocating that we should ALL be looking out for EACH OTHER feeds into it. Advocating that we need to push to get women into STEM fields feeds into it. After all, if we are equals then we will pursue our interests regardless of our sex, right?
If we are equals, why do we need the help any more than men do? Why are women who work "male dominated career fields" being praised for jobs that we just take for granted that men are doing? Why CAN'T women register for the draft? I'm in the service myself and know that if a person is unqualified to serve, they won't serve. Period. Why aren't we expecting women to make the same sacrifices for our country that many men are?
On the flip side of this, and I can't stress this enough, men need to quit taking credit for their entire gender. You can't sit there and, in one breath, say that it's wrong to blame you for the wrongs done by your gender but take credit for the rights. "Men are more likely to serve their country", well how does that apply to you? What is your definition of advancing man-kind and what have you been doing to make that happen? Am I automatically inferior to you because of achievements that you can't personally claim and if you can... What does my sex have to do with it? Can I not have the courtesy of being an inferior human being rather than being an inferior woman?
Does the fact that there are plenty of males who are physically and skillfully inferior to me mean nothing because I didn't put the first foot-print on the moon? No. And women need to remember this too because I also didn't discover the cure to cancer or found the women's suffrage movement. Give credit where credit is due and don't credit your entire gender for individual achievements. Einstein didn't formulate the theory of relativity because he had a pecker.
TL;DR, is it normal that I feel the need to have open dialogue between the sexes about Gender Inequality? I'd love to hear your thoughts...