Paul Hill – Fotolia

America hides its problems instead of fixing them

Gender inequality has always existed,
it is hard to fix and taught to
future generations. I want to live in a
world where women are not treated
as less than because of her gender.
Although we may have laws that
promote equal opportunities, laws
do not contribute to people’s belief
that everyone is equal. America
does not believe that everyone is
equal.
Our president of 2016, who has
a lot of influence over future generations,
makes plenty of sexist
remarks; for instance he compared
women to buildings and added that
he gets bored when they become
successful.
“I think that putting a wife to
work is a very dangerous thing,”
said Trump. “Unfortunately, after
they’re a star, the fun is over…like
a creation process. It’s almost like
creating a building. It’s pretty sad.”
This so-called role model is sending
a message, that these discriminatory
beliefs are okay and should be
embraced, to society’s children.
Men continue to view women as
insignificant. Yet, if women admit
to how they feel about this it makes
them look weak because we are
proving to the men that what they
do or say affects us and women are
afraid to seem that vulnerable.
Michelle Obama said. “We are
doing what women have always
done, trying to get through it, trying
to pretend that this doesn’t really
bother us. Maybe because we think
admitting how much it hurts, makes
us as women look weak, women are
grown accustomed to swallowing
these emotions and keeping quiet.”
She said women react this way
because they have seen that people
often won’t take a woman’s word
over a man.
How does raw power get to have
an “un-critiqued” place in an unjust
and unequal society? How does
power work that when you point to
its excess it makes you look weaker?
Maybe it’s because when women
speak up against power, their
admitting to those with higher privilege
that women go through these
problems in the first place.
Society changes people’s mindset
into believing that if women were
strong and confident enough they
wouldn’t be having these issues.
Almost like when that different kid
in school gets picked on by bullies,
and those bullies make themselves
believe that if that kid wasn’t so
“weird” they wouldn’t be bothering
him in the first place. The aggressor
will make themselves not have
a guilty conscience and continue to
oppress others. Think of these gender
stereotypes that men continue to
proclaim, as a way of clearing their
guilty conscience so they can oppress
women freely.
I am going to participate in organizations
and social actions that support
gender equality and women’s
empowerment. It’s more crucial
now to begin to make these values
a priority. It’s appalling to see
that Americans actually agree and
support the mindset of our newly
elected president who ridicules and
disrespects women. I find it very
important to get more involved if I
want to accomplish my ideal society;
put an end to gender stereotyping
in all aspects of society, family,
school, workplace and the law.