The Little Things Matter

            It is 2015 and there are many achievements to brag about, and then there are the failures that cannot be avoided; Inequality between men and women. Believe it or not, or should I say, admit it or not, women are inferior to men. Who is at fault of this? Or is anyone? Why does inequality still exist, and how can we begin to change it?

            There are ranged problems that began simple then transition to extremely serious; it is the little things that soon add up to a bigger issue right beyond our eyes. Women are constantly criticized and judged in multiple settings; whether at school, at work, walking down the street, or even on social media.

Name-calling, something that unfortunately occurs too often is what most woman face regularly. Again, the little things add up and when a woman faces such slander purely due to her sex, these small things start to weigh a person down. For example, a woman being called a “hoe” is depicted as nasty, dirty, and disgusting; she will be humiliated, embarrassed and could even fall into a state of deep depression. A man who is called a “hoe” perceives this comment as a joke and very lightly, brushes it off, and does little to no harm to his identity. The society, his group of friends and community will not change their perspective on this man; rather, it is considered humorous. A man may laugh it off and go hit on a girl right afterwards. He will not be criticized and may become popular from it.

        Something needs to be changed. There is too much of a difference between genders. Women should be given more respect as a human being, wouldn’t you agree? Women have continuously fought to be treated equally; it is time that they receive the same respect as men. Name calling is just a start of how we can approach discrimination towards women. For men, think of it this way, imagine sitting at home on the couch and enjoying a beer but suddenly you are rushed with your 15 year old daughter whose face is flushed and has endless tears. Imagine your daughter then telling you she is getting picked on by boys from school. She is being called a “hoe” for her apparel and self-expression. As a father you may grow angry, emotional and defensive. But how can this father be so angry if he once degraded women himself?

        Young men and grown men need to be more understanding that women have feelings. Name calling is hurtful and if it is done then why can it not have the same meaning when directed to a man compared to a women? Gender equality falls into various categories, but name calling is one used in society almost every day around schools, on television, and in our neighborhoods, it is shameful and sickening and only being directed towards women. Therefore, as a society together it is obvious that there needs to be a change.

Let’s end 2015 on a better note. Beginning with the name calling and leading into the bigger issues such as wage differences between men and women. It is not only women who need to stand up for their own rights but it is the men of society who need to help contribute to this change and commit to it. As mentioned, it is the little things that that matter, which can make a really big change.

          Imagine the bigger change that will come from name calling directed towards women. It will cause there to be a reflection with actions. Women will gain respect and no longer have to feel demolished. The other factor to consider is society and the people within it. If men stopped the name-calling, will they be viewed as less than? Will they then be inferior than? What are the consequences if the ‘normal’ today were to change between gender roles/equality? Remember, this is our every-day lives we are considering, what will happen if our normal could evolve into a more unified society between gender roles?