Take a look at a glossy women’s magazine and the chances are good that there’s a page or two of male bashing in its pages. But do men have it easier in reality? Or is it an example of a gender stereotype?
The conversations
It’s great that conversations are starting about gender pay gap and other issues. After all, women are still earning less than their male counterparts in many industries in the US and elsewhere.
And the glass cliff is another issue. It keeps many women from gaining positions on corporate boards.
Another subject of dialogue is whether there are more male protagonists in Hollywood movies than female.
Running through these conversations is a common thread – The notion that if you are born male, you will have an easier life than your female counterparts.
But, is this true? Do men have it easier? It’s time to look at the details.
Power differences: Gender stereotype example or not?
Men are typically physically stronger than women. It’s a fact and a genetic inequality that humans can do very little about.
However, this neanderthal physical strength has slowly evolved into a domination within society. There are more male world leaders and a greater number of men as CEOs of the world’s largest conglomerates.
Some people might say that those individuals were selected on merit and that you cannot simply place a woman into a senior role because of some half-hearted devotion to positive discrimination. But there’s no refuting that women hold merely 4.2% of the CEO positions in the U.S.
The inequality in leadership roles in America is rampant.
Money
The recent emergence of pay disparity amongst Hollywood’s leading thespians has proven what has already been known for decades: men often get paid more than women for similar movie roles. Jennifer Lawrence recently spoke up about the pay disparity in the film industry.
And this disturbing difference in wages has been the case in every job throughout history from baking to banking. Only recently is there starting to be recognition that this phenomenon is not fair, but also action to address the issue and change it.
For example, Emma Stone recently stated how male actors took a pay cut so she would get equal pay. Good for them, but surely it would be better if everyone made the same respectful pay.
Furthermore, wouldn’t it be better if the changes applies to the entire movie industry rather than just the ones involving Emma Stone? If so, the head honchos at film studios would have to change policy and process to support gender equality.
Life
Women often throw around the half joking comment that men have it easy because they don’t have periods, PMS, or ever have to experience the act of giving birth. True, but what about the experiences that men do endure?
When a couple has decided that they no longer wish to expand their family, for example, a man may choose to permanently halt his fertile days. The wealth of vasectomy information available shows that this operation can be traumatic, with a risk of hematoma and chronic testicular pain.
In comparison to those health issues, one might say the acute trauma of giving birth is the slightly better deal.
Whether you are male or female, life can sometimes throw you a curveball or two that greatly impact your physical, emotional and mental well-being. Women have avenues through which to channel their feelings and are typically not criticized for talking through their emotions, unlike men.
Maybe she sees a doctor to check-in about a potential problem, phones a helpline, or simply talks with a friend. Meanwhile, guys still face a macho stigma about reaching out for help.
And that gender stereotype applies to both physical and mental assistance, by the way. Maybe it’s assembling Ikdea furniture, asking for direction,s or needing support for their mental health.
Even though women are more likely to suffer from depression, of the 38,000 people who took their own lives in 2010, a staggering 79% were male. This haunting statistic shows a vast disparity that demonstrates the need for specific mental health provision for men.
Gender stereotype example: Answering the question of do men have it easier?
When it comes to gender stereotype, there is inequality but not always in the way that you assume. And assumptions can be hurtful, as with the suicide numbers discussed above.
Yes, men may get paid more, but this occurrence is changing as more people speak up and encourage change. There is a stigma regarding to men asking for help, but hopefully this changes for the better too.
Fundamentally, it’s essential to make sure that men and women work together to bring about equality and fairness within society. Doing so is for the sake of everyone.
#men #women