If one
more person tells me I can’t do something because I am a woman I may just spit
fire. I am fully aware of the gender
roles society has adopted and accepted to believe and I also understand that
physical strength can also be a factor in the reasoning behind such beliefs,
but can’t is such a infinitely definite term.
So maybe I take a different path, but I still reach the same
destination. Gender oppression,
prejudice, and bias is actually a part of most cultures. I do not dwell on it as much as I did as I
was younger, but I proved myself to myself and no longer consider my self a
part of it, nor do I render myself to debates with others about it.
Growing up, my dad assured me that I
could do anything a boy could do and better.
I never realized the bias in this statement until now. I believed it and still do, but not so much
because it is something a girl shouldn’t do based on gender roles, but because
I am interested in doing it and I know that I can. The belief that society’s gender roles play
such a part in deciding what we do totally diminishes any kind of equity
between genders in that in addition to being discriminated against for being a
certain gender we are also discriminated against if our actions do not match
our gender. I think this diminishes
equity when the same types of opportunities are not offered based on gender
rather than an individual’s ability to fail or succeed at the task.
I have mentioned in past blogs my
love for archery and that I have been quite competitive in the sport throughout
my life. I spend more time hunting now
then competing and this does not conform to my assigned gender roll either. For once, (from someone besides my father) it
would be nice hear that the shot I made was a good kill without the addition,
for a girl…to which I always reply, are you kidding me, that was a good kill
for anyone, no meat for you! Perhaps it
would be more equitable for them if they thought before they spoke and I think
this message does get across. Sadly, it
feels like I have earned a spot in this world rather than had an equitable
opportunity to be there. I am not sure
how to change this man’s world, but I can influence belief by constantly
challenging it.
Hi Crystal, I think it is great that your dad told you that you could do anything that a boy could do! I did not have that kind of upbringing. I was taught that certain jobs and activities were for boys and not girls. I just accepted it. You are going to hate this, but the other day someone asked me if I knew how to change a tire. I told them no but I knew how to get it changed - look helpless until some male took pity on me and stopped to change it for me! Sorry! I did that once with my sister and she was soooo upset with me. She went to the trunk to take out the spare and I had already gotten a guy to help change it - of course she kept saying I could have done it myself!! She is the baby in the family and has always been a bit of a rebel! I do understand where you are coming from though, and I think that gender bias is very damaging to women especially in the professional arena. I admire your strength and independence, and secretly wish that I were more like you! Thanks for sharing. Delores
ReplyDeleteGreat post!!! I agree it is a MAN’S world because the dominate culture is a group of upper-middle class white males who determine what is socially appropriate for people to engage in and behave. I am happy to read you are a hunter…a female hunter!! Which goes against all that society thinks is gender specific, hence the reason I said female hunter. Society has deemed it appropriate for only men to be hunter, but I would take you camping any day to keep me safe and feed me!! Thanks for sharing!!
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