We live in society in which men are conditioned to be dominant. As sociologist David Sadkers observed, men and women are led to different paths from an early age. Young boys are taught to be loud and outspoken, while girls are taught submissiveness and reprimanded for speaking out of turn. This taught dominance legitimizes objectification of women, and in turn justifies the rape culture that is growing around us. This is not some radical feminist statement claiming all men are bad; these are the facts.
1. The pay gap is real.
As stated by the White House, women earn 77 percent of what a man earns yearly, at the same job, same level, and with the same responsibilities. Not only do yearly salaries prove this to be sadly accurate, it is also true that women employees are far less likely to be offered benefits like health insurance and paid leave in comparison to men at the same workplace. Even with lower pay, women spend about 90 percent of their income on family, while men with larger paychecks spend only 30 to 40 percent on average.
2. There is not an educational difference to justify the gender gap.
It is true that in 1970, men where far more educated than women, but since the rise of women in the school system, this gap has closed. There are women with equal education and skills who are still not offered the same rewards as men. The human capital theory states that men have higher-paying positions because they have higher skill levels, higher education, and more commitment, but the facts counter this theory completely.
3. The pay gap especially targets women of color.
Among full-time workers in 2014, Hispanic, African-American, and American-Indian women had lower median annual earnings compared with non-Hispanic white and Asian-American women. African-American women earn 64 cents and Latina women earn 56 cents for every dollar earned by a Caucasian man.
4. American women serving in Iraq or Afghanistan are more likely to be raped by a comrade than killed by an enemy.
The male dominance that is taught from an early age creates fear in women and empowers men, making rape easier and more accepted. A female soldier is as capable as a male one. As if fighting for your country is not scary enough, try being scared for your safety around the people on your side.
5. Every minute a girl is forced into marriage.
Young girls are treated as property and traded into marriage, often violent, to benefit their family. Females are seen as objects and given away as if they are owned by anyone but themselves. This puts young girls at risk of early pregnancy and other reproductive health issues.
6. Women are not at fault for a man's actions.
Thirty-six percent of people believe that a woman should be held wholly or partly responsible for being sexually assaulted or raped if she was drunk, and 26 percent believe this if she was in public wearing sexy or revealing clothes. Only 77 percent of young men agree that having sex with someone who has said no is rape.
It is not hard to understand. It is not hard to wrap your mind around the concept of men and women being on the same playing field. This society we live in constructs the gender gap, and we have to speak out for the women who are unheard. What you just read is factual: It is real and happens every day around you. These six points are only a small portion of the inequality happening between sexes. Do not become apathetic.
