Since the beginning of time, men and women have had their own separate place in societal structure. Sure, over the course of time, certain lines have been blurred--women have become construction workers, electricians, CEOs of huge corporations (is this true? Research time), war "heros," and even made a run for the Presidency. Stay-at-home moms and housewives are few and far between, due in large part to our economic system in America. But even at that, in any suburban house on any given night, you can listen in on a conversation between a parental figure and a would-be daughter:
"You are NOT wearing that to school young lady!"
"Go into the kitchen and help your mother with dinner, Sally, Annie, (Insert girl's name here)"
"Oh sweetie, if you want to fit into your prom dress, you probably shouldn't eat that."
"Dating is a privilege not a right and you don't have any rights!"
Now, these are all made up of course, but they tend to follow a certain pattern of remarks that are made to girls over the course of their lives. I am sure there are ones that pertain to boys too, however, I am somewhat limited due to my own gender and the lack of experience in growing up with any boys in my home. So, input from my guys in class would be much appreciated, and YES, that means boys, you do need to do a little extra work this week. Sorry. Now, stop whining.
The question this week, D&Ders, is a simple one, but one that has plagued civilization since the dawn of time (well, maybe not THAT long) and that is this: Who has it easier in life, men or women? Now the rules are as they always are here--always the WHY? But, beyond that, I would like you to give me at least 3 examples that support your answer and ones that you can speak intelligently about because you have experience.
Think about your life on all levels, home, school, social. Consider all the interactions between men and women that you have seen or been a part of and if at all possible, try to view it from a variety of perspectives. It will be hard, but try not to let emotions play into your answer--if you have a positive/negative energy or memory or experience with one sex or the other, don't let that color the way you respond here.
400 words/50pts
I feel a woman has it easier than a man because they do not have to be drafted at times of war or battlefront only men do. Women get to voluteer for what they want to do more than men.
ReplyDeleteMen live shorter lives than women do because womens life expectancy is longer. Womens jobs are less physical and stressful on the body more so than a mans. A man feels more stressed when he can not provide for his family. He was taught that he was to provide financally to support his family. Some times the man tends to take on a second job before a woman. More men take on tougher jobs such as a police officer, judge, doctor, lawyer, construction worker etc. They tend to go to college longer to achieve their goals. They want to make as much money as possible.
Though I know this is a Debate and Discussion class and I must pick one side ( which I did for this blog), I must say that I feel like both men and women have their duties by nature which never lessens the work of the other. I came from a household that values and promotes BOTH genders even though they might not being do the same work. With that said, I will go ahead and pick the obvious side that Men do have it easier... if compared to a Mom. (; Like I said, as long as I'm concerned, the individual female vs. male have their own personal problems from both perspectives.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a woman have harder lives is that ability to carry another life inside of her for nine months. Wether you're a spiritual, religious, or scientific person one common theme that cannot be denied by the human race is the MIRCLE of MOTHERHOOD! A baby can actually smell his/her mother's human scent. It depends on it's mother. After nine months, a woman suffers through labor pains and has this baby. Statistics show that men are the gender that is most likely to walk out on the family. With that said, that shows that that Men in tough situations are not most likely to grasp responsibility. As a mother, which is a FULL time job, the woman is more likely to have another job to take care of the bills. She also makes sure her kids are fed, cleaned, healthy, and ready for life. Majority of people (even if girls don't always get along with their mothers) would agree that the person at home that's trying hard is the mother. Woman are most of the time the basis of a family. Again I don't think in absolutes, therefore not all women are like this.
With motherhood out the way, I feel like women might feel like they have it harder because they don't take the fact that men would want to cherish them or value them in a way that would seem to limit the woman, or seem like the man is telling her that her abilities are limited. I think that when women take it in that kind of way, for such a long time of generations, the view changed, and the woman feel challenged to prove a point that they need no man to protect (or at least make him feel like he's there for protection) and that they need to work twice as hard to show men that they are just as good individuals and that they don't need men.
The third thing that would demonstrate Men have it easier is that women are a lot more sensitive, which is prone to the "witch with a b" attitude and hurt feelings. Not saying that men are non emotional lumps of rocks, but women are more expressive which gives them the more likely hood that they are bashed, rejected, and or abused. Which is another point, woman are usually physically weaker, and more likely to be raped, abused, sexually, or verbally harassed. Woman even have a worse self image and try harder to look good for men.
I try to not bash the men, just trying to highlight why women have it harder.
In my opinion girls have it harder. Women have to have there period and if you are a girl everyone knows this is the worst time of the month. We also have to endure child birth, men will never be able to imagine this pain. Going to school as a young female is extremely hard. Everyone knows girls are very caddy and are constantly talking crap on one another and making up rumors. Most boys aren't like this from what I've seen it is a lot easier for boys to make friends and get along because there isn't all the drama girls have. Being a young female in high school I have gone through this, there is always another girl who is jealous and tries to slander your name. Once these rumors get out they spread like wild fire through the school and its even worse when people really believe these rumors. It is so hard after someone ruins your reputation to repair it. It is mentally draining and some mornings you don't even want to get up and go to school because of all the non sense. Another thing in high school is your clothing this doesn't really relate to me because I don't care what people think of me I'm going to school to get an education and leave, but I've heard girls make fun of another girl just because they didn't like what she was wearing. It is a lot of pressure for an adolescent mind to handle all of this. The pressure to impress your peers is huge. Boys get to wear non form fitting clothes so it doesn't matter if there fat because no one will know unless your really big. Yes, girls can wear non form fitting clothes, but than what guy is paying attention to her and every girl likes when a boy pays attention to them. When girls go home there is a stereotypical job for them to do cook, clean, do laundry etc... What do boys do? nothing they just sit around make more of a mess for the female to clean. In society it is even harder for women because men still do look down upon women for some jobs. Even though we all know women can do just as much as men if not more it doesn't matter we are discriminated against just because we are a female. Another thing is how boys treat girls in a social setting if a man doesn't get something he wants now the girl is a slut.. this makes no sense to me. Also when something does happen between a girl and a boy then the boy goes around school telling all his friends because he thinks he's cool now the girl looks bad and that was something personal to her now the whole school knows. Girls are naturally more caring and so when you have your first boyfriend no one tells you he is going to do something that's going to hurt you, the attitude boys have is whatever I just wont talk to her anymore while the girl cant figure out why and she is crushed.
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ReplyDeleteIn a social setting, I would have to 100% agree that womens lives are much, much harder. This is very true in todays society, that the majority of the average women's life is more difficult than that of men. At least this is true of the life that every one expects them to lead. As clearly stated in previous comments, they obviously have a lot more social pressures, in most cases producing physical burdens in their lives. I have some argument from fellow males including similar pressures, but as I see it, they can not compare to that of our female counterparts. I, being a male myself, do not relate with most of other males supposed pressures. These, to me, in fact have proven to be very insignificant.
ReplyDeleteNow, theoretically, each the male and female's life, should in fact be equally difficult. That logically, being because life, with the exception of abuse from others and assuming that you are of average intelligence, is as difficult as you make it for yourself. Though, I see that you are obviously talking about the lives of women, as a whole, in the typical surroundings of normal life. As of this moment, this is all I can put forth, without boring you with the whines and complaints, or otherwise rambling, of the average lazy American man.
P.S. I have duly noted that my response has an insufficient amount of words, but what is laid down before you are all the opinions, which I can sensibly argue at this point. Though, I could argue the lack of words, in Bruce's and my one response, is yet another example of how our(the males) life is easier.
In my personal opinion i feel that in life overall women have harder lives to live. In the immediate view of the situation girls have more of a struggle to obtain the rights that since the beggining of time men have been given. Women have always been claimed to be inferior to men and have been told that they were to sit back and allow the men to lead with the women simply following whatever they were told. Now back in the old days of civilization women have simply accepted this with very few willing to question what they have been told. However in the latter days women have fought for their rights and to be treated as equals in society, unfortunatly they have had to fight tooth and nail for that right since women started questioning the old beliefs. Women have always been persecuted and have been told to go back to their jobs cleaning, cooking, etc... Now in my life I have seen that the steriotype of women doing these jobs have been torn apart. A prime example of this is my own family, my father died when i was at a very young age and since that day my mother has taken the responsibilty to raise my sister and i and make sure we grew up to be what we are today. Now growing up, over and over i have seen my mother take charge of the household and do any form of renovation or construction around the house which one would think is a mans job. However this is just a example that i have close to myself personally other prime examples include women entering virtually every field of civilisation wether it be in politics, sports, finance, etc. Now this may seem like a post that is showing all that women have achieved but this success has been paved with struggles of men persecuting women and saying that they cant do hard work or that they arent capable of doing work that requires a (man's level) of strength or mental prowess. Back in the day no one would trust a women over a man because of the thought that women were inferior. However through all of these struggles they have managed to prove the truth that they are as equals with men, the only problem is that they have fought for this since the beggining and in many ways still fight for it today making women's lives harder than mens.
ReplyDeleteThis is somewhat of a coincidence because Freshmen year I had to answer this very question. I have to say that men have it harder.In today's if a women cries no one thinks anything of it, however when a man does everyone looks and thinks he is a wimp. Also, the men are expected to provide for the family, I know women can do it but it is usually the men that do. So, if the family doesn't have enough money the men blame themselves. Men have a shorter life expediency, which means they have less time to do what they want to.
ReplyDeleteI think that men have it easier in life. Being a guy myself, I can't really give any first-hand accounts of the complexities in a woman's life. However, it is obvious that women go through a lot of pain and stress during their 'monthly madness' and that they're generally more sensitive about love matters. Men mature slower and usually don't take relationships as seriously as women, so when they break up with their girlfriends they don't realize the emotional pain that they've dealt. Then there is the fact that girls get pregnant, which in itself is painful labor. Then, to top off the months of waddling with a giant belly, there is the pain of giving birth. My mom always says stuff like "I went through 3 hours of pain that will never compare to any wound you will ever get!" There are also the stereotypes and gender-roles that usually tick off girls. The same thing applies to men, like when my parents signed me up for soccer. I’m not a big sports guy. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that I hate sports. I did soccer for one year and hated it. There are also the situations when people bring up sports in a conversation (which happens a lot). They ask me stuff like “What’s your team?” and “Did you catch the score on that game last night?” when I don’t have an answer. Afterward, they look at me like I’m a weirdo. However, with women there are many more people who think that women should “stay in the kitchen.” In today’s society, women are sports fans, engineers, construction workers and serve in the army. Even still, people bust on women and tell them to make sandwiches and clean dishes as if men are superior and have the right to command them. Women are also common targets for sexual harassment, much more widespread than a man being sexual harassed. Finally, there are the complexities of female minds that men just can’t comprehend. Every time a girl comes to me to talk about their problems, I feel like I can’t completely grasp what she’s talking about. There are countless movies and books that point out the fact that men don’t understand women, but it’s just so true. Men usually have simple minds, so I can understand why people would say that, but my mind is relatively complex (or so I’ve been told). If I can’t comprehend their psyche, then it would have to take a psychologist to systematize a woman’s mind.
ReplyDeleteBeing a male it would be assumed that I would vouch for all the other men in the world and say, Men evidently have it harder than women; however, that's not the case right now. Women do have it harder than men in our world, even in Great Ol' America. This has been an issue we have been facing for centuries. Since the beginning of time women all around the world have all been looked down upon. The male gender has always and even till this day, for most people, has been considered the dominant gender.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of time, women were simply look as house wives; there was no question in which women could do anything else. They were all expected to cook and clean the house while taking care of any children. Over time, yes, women have fought for their right and have won but, even with their win people still protest and believe the government in no place for a women, working is not a women's role etc..
Besides the fact women are looked down upon, I believe men and women are both equally cab-able of accomplishing anything, except for one thing...Men are not able to birth a child. A pain only woman live through. Also, they go through a mental cycle every month something men don’t have anything to worry about.
I’m not saying Men don’t have any challenges in life because trust me we do but, overall women have more.
In today’s day and age men and women have gotten closer and closer to having equal lifestyles. However even though it is close men still have the easier life. Granted that men are know as the bread winners and the main supporters of any family, but looking behind all that you see what women especially working mothers do on a daily basis. Women have always been the ones to clean, cook, and take care of the children and too many people that is a full job in itself. Now working mothers are joggling both of these jobs at once. For example in a family I know very well the mother works from 7-5 everyday, and comes home immediately to hungry kids asking for dinner. She than has to make dinner, cleans up the dishes after dinner, do laundry, and clean the house. This one mother practically works two jobs in one day. On a social note women have it tough as well. Women are pounded everyday that they have to look a certain way and many of them take hours to dress up that way just to go out to a store to get milk. Women always have to look their best when in public otherwise people start to grow their own opinions on the woman and they aren’t always nice. Society puts a lot of pressure on these women especially younger ones and it takes its toll on some of them. Women try so hard to impress people while you take any normal man (including myself) who just wakes up from bed and just throws on cloths and heads out the door. Finally women have to deal with child birth and that reason on its own is more than enough to make a women’s life harder. Now I’m not saying men couldn't handle it but we don't have to so we will never have to know. I always joke that God has to be a man because just about everything bad happens to a women. If you ask me I would have to say women have the harder life against all of my will to disagree. It's true though I am glad I’m a man because a women’s life is tough between Mother Nature and all those complex cloths to choose from. Men might have some more physical work or harder work than women, but women definitely have just more work in general.
ReplyDeleteI honestly feel that men have it easier than woman. Men whine about how tough everything is and I've noticed that many women (surprisingly) do the "dirty work" and keep to themselves. Women have countless responsibilities and so do men, but women have their periods, which is a pain in the neck, carry around a rare five to 13 pound baby for nine months, feed and care for that baby, work, and many other things. Carrying around a baby for nine months has been brought up in many debates between my mom and I. She says that she never wants anything to happen to the three of us, (my brother, sister, and I.) She sacrificed a lot and nine months may not sound hard, but in my mother's case, 27 total months is A LOT! Men have more expectations in my opinion. Sports are one example because Men have a sport called football. This sport is arguably the hardest sport in the world. It's a 100% collision sport and even has a risk of death. Men get more recognition in sports also because in America, we tend to watch male sports right? For me, the only time I watch women sports are when the Olympics come on. Even then, women sports do not grasp my attention. It shouldn't always be that way. I feel that women have much more to prove to themselves and the world. Women are beautiful, I think that they just need more attention. Women are patient also because I don't understand how they've put up with me through the things I've done to them. I feel that they are different than men but men don't know how women feel and vice versa. Therefore, that's why we clash at times. My mother often talks about the book "Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus". I am a male chauvinist so at times, my mother and I clash. I understand she's believes in women's liberation, but I can't back down from any subject that has potential for debating. I love proving people wrong.
ReplyDeleteMen have it way harder than females. We are expected to run this country. All 44 presidents were men. The richest person on earth is a man. We are the guardians of this place we call earth. We are the dominate human. We are expected to take care of our families. In a divorce the wife is benefited. The male is expected to start all over. Nothing against Females, because I couldn't live without them. Im going to just go off the wall and state those women need us more than we need them. A female can hit a man and get a slap on the wrist. A Man is not allowed what so ever to put his hands on a female. If he does, it’s like tornado hitting a city. If a female does, then there is very little consequence. If men and women traded places then most females would see how hard a man really has it. Woman have it pretty rough to. But the men who really take on the role of being a man, have it so hard. The ones who work hard for everything they have. I consider my mother a man. To me she is my father and mother. She has struggled and gotten through everything by herself. She has showed me and my brother’s hoe to do so much. There are some men out there who are very selfish and do not give a crap about anything. If I could I would say both men and women have it equally rough, but if I had to choose then I would ride with home team.
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