2 years, 2 months ago-
It is not a hidden fact that women in society have to face gender injustice at various levels. Be it the independence at home, choice to education, workplace problem, and gender-related crimes, they have always been at the suffering end of the injustice. But will it e right to say that only women are suffering from gender injustice in society? Especially when the gender lines are becoming thinner and thinner under the umbrella terms? This whole gender-related injustice needs to be revisited.
Now when we say that only women have to face gender injustice will be wrong. Men too have to face gender injustice because of the socially mandated gender roles in society. Firstly, they have to go through a lot of mental health issues, because our society mandates that men are not allowed to display their emotions on a regular basis, as they are not females to be displaying the emotions. This has caused a lot of bottled-up emotions in men, leading to many mental health issues. It can also be said to be a direct cause of much domestic violence in homes, as it is the direct result of unresolved emotions. Men have to face many discriminatory laws too. No doubt we have decriminalized section 377 of IPC, but still, the rape laws are discriminatory on the basis of the gender of a person. It completely presupposes that men cannot be a victim of sexual offenses. It has cost a lot of injustice in society, especially when same-sex relationships are on the rise.
Then there are the issues of the discrimination that the transgender community has been facing since historical times. No doubt laws have been passed to improve their situation, but the recent law that was passed has many unconstitutional provisions in it. Transgender is facing hell in jails, where they have to face sexual crimes on a regular basis. Despite recognizing them as a third gender, we still have not make any proper solution regarding their employment, they still have to work as a sex worker. Times have come where we need a complete policy change, we have to make laws keeping in mind the new genders that are emerging, and we have to shed the archaic gender roles.The literal definition of gender equality is ‘equality between men and women’ but whenever gender equality is spoken about or even taken into consideration it often seems like a fight for women’s rights. I believe that having gender equality is a human right and when human right comes into consideration we do not differentiate between men and women because we all are humans here.
Each and every person living on this earth has been a victim of gender inequality. Gender norms and roles created by our ancestors seems to have become a barrier in the revolution of both men and women. Everyone is biased when it comes to gender. Here are some pointers that will explain how men face inequalities in their life-
1. Men are supposed to always ‘act like a man’ which means act tough and strong without showing any kinds of emotions.
2. Career are often linked with gender. Career associated with nursing, teaching etc. are still dominated by women and men are not considered suitable for such jobs.
3. Men are supposed to be the prime source of income for a household and all responsibilities are laid on their shoulders.
4. Men are more prone to suicidal thoughts when they fail to deliver what they are expected to or fail to look after their families.
5. Looking after children and doing household chores is considered as a woman’s job while men are supposed to work outside and earn for the family.To conclude, men are equally affected by gender stereotypes as women. Their ‘efforts’ are often neglected and are termed as their ‘responsibility’. We must acknowledge the problems faced by men too, when we talk about gender equality and the day both men and women get equal rights would be the day of human revolution.
Gender inequality by its definition, means the unequal treatment of someone on the basis of their gender. It does not state which gender. So in a country like India, if someone asks whether women are the only victims of gender inequality, the short answer would be a no. But a nuanced answer would be a little complicated.
Gender inequality has weakened the roots of our constitution in many ways and it continues to do so by perpetuating and promoting the gender based stereotypes in the minds of the country’s youth. People are treated unequally on the basis of gender on the basis of general stereotypes and prejudices. Women are certainly not the only victim of gender inequality. Men suffer due to the harmful beliefs in the country’s minds as well. But there is one significant difference between the gender inequality that men and women face.
The gender inequality that men face is merely due to the harmful mindset of the society. Men’s unequal treatment can be curbed once we get rid of the gender based stereotypes. The gender inequality faced by women, on the other hand, is a totally different matter. Women are not only facing unequal treatment due to the society’s harmful mindset, but in addition to that, they are facing systemic gender inequality since the time immemorial. The gender inequality against women cannot simply be stopped by changing people’s backward mindset, we need to change and modify the whole system of the country that is designed inherently against women! That is the only way we can achieve gender equality for women on all levels in the fair sense.
Inequality is a human right violation so it doesn’t matter whether it happens with a woman, man or others. Gender inequality is a disease that infects everyone irrespective of gender. We see men facing inequality the same way a woman or any other gender faces. Inequality is affecting each one of us in many ways. A man faces inequality at some point in his life too. For instance, reservations for women in the field of jobs or politics are unfair to men. There are women quotas in colleges and other places which makes it difficult for deserving men to get admitted. Then there is an abundance of inequality for the LGBTQ community. They are not treated as equals in anything. They have to struggle every single time to get their equal share of respect and opportunities. Why should only women or men get equality? People who are lesbian or gay are also humans and they deserve the same share of respect and opportunities that any of the other genders deserves. Inequality towards men comes through a lot of women who believe in pseudo-feminism. Men become victims of this fake feminism and are often treated as unequal. LGBTQ community suffers because of society’s illogical stereotypes, their gender hardly gets recognition. Although now things are changing but still the mind set of people are persistent towards this community. I believe more than any other gender, they face inequality the most, and still, we are not acknowledging the fact that like women or men, they need equality too. We have seen a wave of movements that support women’s equality but it is high time now that we give equal recognition to the LGBTQ community.
Everyone needs to understand that no gender is better or worse than the other, no gender is superior or inferior and no gender deserves unequal treatment no matter what. Gender inequality has caused many problems in society and will continue to be a big threat if it isn’t treated from the core. As a society, we have to learn, unlearn and relearn a number of things and that can only be possible if we change from within. We need to understand the concept of gender equality and should not be misguided by the false narrative set by people. Gender equality is for everyone and no gender should face inequality ever.As said by Emma Watson “It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals.”
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