43 male presidents, 0 women presidents

9 male secretary generals, 0 women secretary generals.

1000 rapes for every 6 convictions.

These statistics are frightening for women all around the world. However, as a civilization, we have created these statistics. Society has established a patriarchy in which men are expected to be more aggressive and gain leverage over women. By fueling this hierarchy, women will continue to be belittled and self-deprecated. Equitable binary begins as we raise children with a double standard in which daughters are prevented opportunities that sons are given with excessive freedom. Not only do we see examples of this power struggle in home life, but also in our hometowns. For example, at Colts Neck High School, the female cheerleaders bake and buy food for the football players all season long. This results in football players feeling entitled and powerful. This prerogative feeling only leads some men, such as Donald Trump and Kanye West, to believe that power and status is earned through vulgar statements about women’s bodies and brags about perpetrating sexual fantasies upon them. Other men such as, Brock Turner obtain power by raping women. This becomes endemic in society through early indoctrination.

As a child, I was always to taught to hold my tongue. To be tactful, to be quiet, to be polite. My brother, on the other hand, was taught to be assertive, to be heard, to be a leader. I have strayed from these social norms and try to be self-assured and take charge, but society's view on gender norms has turned me into bossy, a spoiled brat. Yet, the boys who behave the same way are considered authoritative and powerful. I am reprimanded by adults saying I need to act more ladylike, to sit with the other girls and be silent. This establishes a patriarchy in society from a young age and teaches that there is more power in being a male.

Reciprocity instills equality, when this is absent hierarchies are built. At high schools, cheerleaders are required to bake for the football players, with nothing in return, not even a little appreciation. I asked a few cheerleaders how they felt about this situation and many expressed feelings of under appreciation and pressure to bake out of obligation. They continue to bake because they fear ostracism. Now, when I asked the football players, most of them felt they were entitled to the baked goods. Surprisingly the football coach believed baking should not be required, but the girls should want to bake for them. We institutionalize gender roles that create a power structure in which men are viewed as superior. A rebel in these social norms will result in female rejection.

The authorization of inappropriate statements leads to a brutal cycle in which a hierarchy is established. Donald Trump a main applicant for the republican party was documented expressing his belief that “You can do anything ... Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything” to women. Society reveres Trump even after these profane and disparaging words. By admiring a public figure after a blasphemous statement has been stated, we maintain a patriarchy in which degrading women is not only okay but, accepted. Trump has a large group of supporters who diminish these sacrilegious words as “locker room talk”. Talking about raping a woman is not locker room talk, it is unacceptable. It is frightening to think that someone who can use such derogatory terms can be a main candidate for president. But let’s be honest here, Trump is not the only one to demean women, it is now a social norm. Take a look Kanye West’s lyrics in his recent song 30 hours, “My ex said she gave me the best years of her life seen a recent picture of her and I guess she was right” Kanye is idolized by ages ranging from thirteen to fifty. Even after diminishing women as his personal object, Kanye maintains a large following of fans. It is visible that society venerates him as the tweets, “#kanye2020 for president”, continue. The public concludes that there is authority in being a male, ultimately, leading to the creation of a hierarchy.

As a result of the creation of a patriarchy, power-seeking men diminish women’s dignity and value to society. At Stanford College, a young swimmer, Brock Turner, sexually violated a woman behind the dumpster as she lay unconscious with pine needles sticking out of her hair. The judge berates the victim with subjective questions to excuse Brock Turner’s actions and accuse the victim of “asking for it”. Society disparages female figures in order to find innocence in men. Turner’s father derogates the sexual assault as “20 minutes of action” and seeks a soft punishment. The judge accepts his plea and sentences Brock Turner for six months in jail after raping an innocent woman. Brock Turner was released after three months due to good behavior. This undemanding punishment occurs due to the circumstances in which male privilege overthrows women’s birthright to live without fear of constant persecution.

Consequently, male entitlement results in a patriarchy. It is a vicious cycle in which male dominance is taught at a young age leading to violent, power-seeking acts of supremacy, whether it be vulgar and demeaning statements or physical and vicious assaults. It will always be a cyclical nature

My mom once informed me when I was younger there was nothing we can do, that the world was as equal as it could be. In the same breath, she told me to be safe, to be careful and told my brother to go out and play.