Gender Inequality refers to the unequal treatment of people based on their genders. It is prevalent all around the world and it occurs to anyone and everyone. Gender inequality not only affects women alone but men, non binary and transgender people.
Gender inequality is a big issue for any gender. Each gender faces discrimination.
From the start, men face gender inequality. Boys usually aren’t given dolls to play with. Dolls are associated with girls, so people think that the boy might be girly due to this. This is what happens when you assign a gender to toys. Parents do not allow their child to play with any “girly” toy and this leaves a negative impact on them. They might feel as if they’re lesser than the other boys or that boys who play with dolls are not really boys and assign gender to toys which is a very bad mindset. How can we improve gender equality when we are still stuck in this mentality?
In school, boys have to be brave and strong. After all, they’re young men. They shouldn’t be weak or cry. If they do, they will be insulted for it. This is a big problem because men can cry too. Men deserve to cry when they feel like it. They shouldn’t feel as if their value is less for crying. It is wrong to bottle up their emotions. If they’re not vocal with their problems, it will lead to many mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The suicide rates for men are higher than the suicide rates for women.
And if there is any man who challenges the idea of how men are, the man is called names and isn’t considered a man. Many male characteristics are rooted in toxic masculinity, not all men are aggressive or manly and that’s okay. What is not okay is judging other people. I feel a true man is someone who doesn’t judge other men who aren’t the stereotypical example of how men should be.
Men are considered the better gender by some, so if some men could correct the mindset of their friends and other men who have a backward attitude, we can at least see them improve. But, gender equality is impossible to achieve without dismantling harmful structures like patriarchy, homophobia and transphobia. If this was done, gender equality can be achieved.
So yes. Gender inequality is a concern for men as well.