feminism & the sexes

I really liked our discussion in class about gender in social media! I also loved the TedTalk that was shared about the "ManBox" I think that stereotype is way too true for men & women. I had a discussion about it with my friend & husband and I left the discussion relatively stunned. 

My husband and my friend (who I should mention is a man) agreed with the Man-Box but being good honest men that would never cat-call a woman they find it hard to see that some men really do see themselves superior to woman. But they saw my point.

When I brought up stereotypes they weren't quick to agree with the idea of their sons playing with dolls, or not playing t-ball so they could learn how to sew.  I rolled my eyes, my husband and I can cross that bridge when we come to it. 

When I brought up the wage gap I thought for SURE both would agree that it is completely unfair.... although my husband agreed my very good friend did not. He agrees that women should not be paid the same as men so that women are encouraged to "stay home". 

oh how I cringe.

I felt the need to ask him if him and I were doing the same job, him a single man and I a married spouse who is supporting her husband while he is in school if her deserves to be paid more than I. He wavered but still thought I should be encouraged to leave a job once my husband is capable of supporting me. I asked what about his single sister working at a jr high, should she be paid less for the same job as a single man? a married man?

I shouldn't, but I feel the need to mention that I am the kind of girl that doesn't leave the house without make-up or doing my hair, I am working on being able to do more than 5 push-ups, and I will not feel fulfilled in this life until I am a mother. I am as cookie cutter as they get and that is okay! I want my husband to support me so I can raise children but that conversation just didn't sit well with me. I am sitting in upper-division classes with a lot of males and I'll be damned if any one of them made more money than me at the same job, with the same Bachelor's degree just because they have were born a man.

the gender battle is and will be a long battle but I think enough people are voicing their opinions and changing the discussion, on social media especially! Having the conversation is a lot better than ignoring the problem.