The world is a very different place for women now. We have jobs alongside our male counterparts, some of us are even charge of men, we have gained a higher stature, and in general, have gained some more equal footing with men. But some things are still very much the same. Women are paid less than men, discriminated against not only in the world but in government policy, and are subject to look like how the media idealizes us. I decided to go out and ask some guys and see what their views are on women in the world today. The questions ranged from their childhood with women, their perception of women in the media, to how they think women are to act in society. All my participants have been given pseudonyms for their privacy.
How did you view girls when you were younger?
I liked them, I wanted to be friends with them. I mostly saw them as smarter than boys and quieter. When I was in Middle School, I thought of them as dangerous once I got broken up with and impure and disgusting once I heard some of them started sending nudes and grinding.
-Jeremy
When I was younger, women were just as important if not more important than men. They are the ones who give us life and since I am a mama's boy it makes sense that I viewed them as strong, independent, capable, and the leader of the house.
-Roberto
When I was, younger I viewed girls as essentially the other team. In my grade school, it was always a boys vs. girls sort of comedic rivalry almost, and each side viewed each other as essentially mysterious people that we did not know much about.
-Chase
I didn’t picture girls the same, we were different groups. It was just I was a boy and they were a girl.
-Saul
How has that changed as you have gotten older?
I see them a lot more similar to males since I got older. I still see them as smart and quiet except now I realize that there are so many varied personalities and thoughts they carry and that many of them are very similar to me.
-Jeremy
As I got older, my view didn’t disappear, it was only altered based on population. I realized that all women weren’t as strong and able as my mom so my idea was minimized.
-Roberto
I have come to grow, mature, and socialize and obviously, with that comes interacting often with women. The context of the interaction varies greatly and with much more interaction you come to recognize and appreciate some of the fascinating and unique nuances of the female gender and you can actually see differences in how they interact with men versus with other women.
-Chase
I would say they are on a more even playing field even though men largely run society, which may be a bad thing. All those traditional American housewife values have seemed to stay the same. But when it comes to equality and other things in daily life women have started to evolve and branch out into other aspects of life.
-Saul
Do you find yourself stereotyping women? In what way?
Yes, women that are hardcore feminists I stereotype as men-haters and fat and I think that it helps and I know it’s funny and my friends find it funny. I don’t really stereotype women that sleep around a lot because in college it is normal.
-Jeremy
I do stereotype women because from my personal experience, women have been known to stir up drama and because of that I think that a lot of women have drama filled lives.
-Roberto
When you hang out with a group of guys it is noticeable how a masculine environment can lead to a potential stereotype being said, as in saying a woman can’t drive if a female driver happens to cut off a car full of guys. I also see so often men saying bitch to refer to a female largely from what I would think is our music culture.
-Chase
Occasionally. Stereotypes are just the first calls you're gonna make on someone on how they express themselves visually and personality wise. That goes for both genders.
-Saul
What standard do you think society holds women to?
I think society holds women up to high standards of beauty and obedience. The overarching themes of skinniness and dieting plague young girls. They are taught to be picky and to reserve themselves which I think is very sad.
-Jeremy
Society puts many pressures on women because culturally, we have been known to categorize people and judge them based on those categories. There are many standards that they are held to but being the caretaker and second to men is one of the biggest ones. Also, women are hyper-sexualized in society so that’s another standard.
-Roberto
I think it’s greatly varied. I think those with older and outdated viewpoints of women believe that women can and should be held to a standard that is lower than men. I think I would say the hip hop music culture on the other hand for example greatly over-sexualizes women and views them more as objects sadly - it varies all over the nation.
-Chase
I think traditional values are still a huge part. We expect them to cook and clean. But there may not be a standard because 2017 has taught me that all the ideas we used to believe has changed and is constantly evolving.
-Saul
How do you view feminism?
I consider myself a feminist and I want equal rights and equal privilege for my mother, sisters, and friends. However, some go too far and I see them as a type of ‘Malcom X’ of the women's right movement who want more than equality. However, it is about time that women get what they deserve.
-Jeremy
I view feminism as a stop to all sociological patterns that cycle through society. It’s the change of path and mindset to let people know that women deserve better.
-Roberto
I believe that it is not a war on men but a war on the injustices and inequality that they face as a gender. I think that feminism can essentially be viewed as women requesting to be treated as human beings in the areas that they are treated unfairly in so why is that such a problem?
-Chase
I like moderate feminism. Those that are just “I’m just pushing for equal rights and fairness”. I can’t stand the ultra-feminist girls. They don’t believe what you tell them or they don’t do their research. A lot of ultra-feminists are ultra-ignorant and if they want to deny that that’s great but I have not been able to have a lot of intelligent conversation with an alt-feminist.
-Saul
Would you say women are given same/equal opportunities as their male counterparts?
No way. Not even getting into whole wage gap. Women are not awarded anywhere near what men are.
-Jeremy
Even if we eventually get to the point where women get the same opportunities as men (which we are not right now), there will be a bias against that idea for many years to come. It takes years and years to shake that bias but it can be done. "A ship can change direction on a dime".
-Roberto
No.
-Chase
I would say genetics plays a part in that for certain physical jobs. I’m not saying women can’t do what men do but there are a lot of things in life that are just the way they are and you can’t change that. But politics plays a huge part like women getting into the army. Cultural values have set up women to not fit into those jobs and dynamics though.
-Saul
What do you think about the sexualization of women in media? Has it changed your view of women?
I understand it and I am not completely opposed to it but I think it should change a little bit. There is sexualization of men and it is being that important. I think women should be able to do what they want and if it’s too sexual then maybe they can turn it down. It hasn’t changed my view on women.
-Jeremy
Women are sexualized in society without a doubt. It’s wrong and demoralizing and the media needs to be educated on how they shape society. Personally, I think that it doesn’t change my view because it is possible to avoid the ideals that the media portrays about women.
-Roberto
It has not changed my view personally but I believe that in our society it has unfortunately told those who still view women as unequal that it is acceptable to view women in a sexualized manner - it’s working to negatively reinforce gender stereotypes from what I have noticed.
-Chase
Hell yeah, my standards have gone through the roof because of both porn and magazines and all these actresses. I’m constantly exposed to that, every time I open my phone I see a Kardashian and a woman with serious cleavage and a nice ass and I like that. If girls want to show their body and are proud of their body then do it.
-Saul
Do you see men’s view of women changing ever? How?
Yes, I think men’s view of women is slowly turning to a more moral and justice side. I think equality is coming soon and with this new wave of progressives, it will go even quicker.
-Jeremy
It will change a long time as I mentioned before, but with activists constantly trying to change mindsets and educate people, it will happen eventually.
-Roberto
I do, absolutely. I view it sort of like how we saw in the presidential election most millennials across like 47 or 48 states I believe voted blue. I think simply as time goes on and as millennials spread and establish families, the values held by them will trump older and clearly outdated ways of thinking or viewing women held by some men.
-Chase
I would say yeah because society is taking this weird role where everything is loose in a cage and everyone is going at it. Everything is changing. We are becoming more open and creative as a culture and America is becoming of a melting pot than it was. I think it’s possible for men to change but for the most part, I think it’ll stay the same because of genetics.
-Saul
What do you think the role of women in society is?
Same as men. Have offspring, make a name for themselves.
-Jeremy
think the role of women in society is unknown. There should not be roles because then a stigma is formed around that. Being accountable for acting and thinking a certain way shouldn’t be based on what their "role" is. But if I were talking realistically. Women now play the role in which they are the caretaker of the children, the house, the men, etc. but this is changing.
-Roberto
They’re half of our gosh darn planet.
-Chase
For me, in my idea there’s still the household mom. They are still branching out and having careers and doing big things. But there’s a double standard still and it depends on the house.
-Saul
What role have women played in your life?
They have been lovers, role models, friends, acquaintances, teachers, sisters, mothers, best friends, and really everything under the sun.
-Jeremy
Women in my life, specifically my mother, have played the role of the talented, strong, caretaker, "mover and shaker", dreamer, accomplished, smart, and the list goes on. She is who I want to mirror in the future.
-Roberto
Women have brought me up as a child, taught me how to behave properly and how to smooth out my rough and impolite edges, how to love others and how to appreciate the life that I have. The best part? That’s just my mother - women have taught me how to live a properly balanced life as a man.
-Chase
I had old school grandparents. My grandma taught me a lot of stuff like generosity, humbleness, keeping your head in the game, staying away from bad parts of life and loving your family. And my mom she taught me to believe in myself and do whatever you want in life we’re gonna support you. She fed me and got me through a lot of rough times, comforting me through breakups, helped me study lines, she was just there, she was a friend. Same thing for my sister I wouldn’t have gotten through half the stuff I did without my sister.
-Saul
