Be Brave to Be Equal

Society is grounded on the basis of inequality, even today. The gender roles present today prevent many unique women from developing to their full potential. However, these gender roles are extremely resistant to change for the sole reason that they are matters of deeply entrenched tradition. Now, I am not here to explain the problems of the gender divisions in society and how they affect us, but rather to inform you on how the world can diminish its gender-biased way of thinking. So think about it: how many papers and TED talks and lectures have you heard about standing up for women’s rights and defying the status quo? Many, right? Then why is it that no change is being seen and the bias continues to exist? Maybe the solution lies within the women themselves. Many young girls are taught to avoid risk and failure, while boys on the other hand are taught to take risks and be confident. The underlying problem is that girls are taught to be perfect, while boys are taught to be brave. In an HP study, women have been shown to apply to a job only if they meet 100% of the requirements while men will apply to a job if they meet only 66% of the requirements. Also, girls are more unlikely to raise their hands in class than boys. When her mother yelled, Kingston would cry and scream, “‘…I’m not a bad girl.’” Inside, she wanted to be brave and say, “’I’m not a girl’” (Kingston 46).