Empowering Women?

Females are the weaker sex. Women are second-class citizens. Is this true? Yes, it is. Is this fair? No, of course not. But in our patriarchal world these suppositions have become the norm. In almost every society, every culture and in every country females are treated as less than. What does less than mean? It means less than males. Women everywhere, and for much of history, have been kept down by men.

There are too many examples to be discussed here that support my assertions. I will cover just some of them. Women were not allowed to vote in this country until 1920. This was due to the fight for women's suffrage. In other countries there have been similar battles for equal rights. Some of them have been successful while others have failed completely. What has been the result? Just look at those countries where women are forced to wear clothing so that their bodies are completely covered. In others it is a cultural norm to perform genital mutilation on girls as young as infants. This horror is perpetuated in the name of purity and chastity.

Equality in the workplace does not exist. Why should it? Year after year we fail to pass something as simple as the equal rights amendment. Women rarely reach the top of the corporate ladder. They make less money and hold fewer positions of authority than their male counterparts. Heaven forbid a woman should behave like a man! The same behaviors exhibited by men are seen as positive yet treated as a negative if coming from a woman. This double-standard is the height of hypocrisy.

Health care is yet another area in which women and women's issues are given short shrift. Women endure greater pain, and on a regular basis, as compared to men. Menstruation occurs monthly, often with pain from cramps and bloating, for which few effective treatments exist. Men really have no clue as to how a woman suffers before, during and after pregnancy. I have heard many horror stories of hospital stays spent in the maternity ward.

Many of these health issues are not solved due to the fact that mostly male health problems are studied. If men had to endure what women do there would soon be multiple treatments and medications for female medical issues. Going to the doctor for what help exists is often a challenge. How many decent and competent male OB/GYNs are there? It really takes a woman to understand what other women go through. Getting into the stirrups is uncomfortable enough without a cold male doctor being the one to hold the speculum.

There are social issues as well. The first is clothing. Clothing made for women, especially larger women, is made by those who just do not seem to care how ladies look. On top of this fact women's clothing always costs more than men's. Second is communication. Men expect women to think and express themselves like they do. This is another example of the one-way street mentality that permeates our society. Third is emotions. Men express frustration through anger. Women, in many cases, express it through crying. Anger is seen as a positive trait while crying is treated as verboten.

One of the most egregious forms of social inequality concerns the law. Rape is the ultimate violation of a woman's rights and her person. The onus is on the victim in proving the crime took place. A rape victim is naturally reluctant to come forward and face her attacker. Our society makes it worse by heaping shame and embarrassment on she who is assaulted. They are seen as weak and are often blamed for the horror they have endured. Rape kits used in hospitals are administered by indifferent and uncaring medical professionals. This hardly bolsters a rape victim's confidence.

Physical abuse is also an under reported crime in relation to others. Be it a boyfriend, spouse or significant other women are attacked by men in increasing regularity. The real shame is in how the courts handle such incidents. After many years of suffering there comes a time when a woman fights back. No matter how much she may have endured she is often the one arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned. Judges and juries seem to have little sympathy for female victims of abuse.

Here is the truth my friends. Women are the stronger sex and, deep down, men know it. Men are threatened by women and hence the many ways that they are kept down. You may find fault with my argument. You may say I am making generalizations. If you are honest with yourself you will see many examples all around you of what I claim as true. There is but one solution. Women must support each other as they assert individual and collective power. Men must drop their defenses and open themselves up to the wonder that women bring to the proverbial table. Only then can true equality exist as men and women finally coexist in peace and harmony.