Have women obtained the equality in regard with men? Unfortunately, living in the XXI Century does not mean that the society is free of numerous prejudices, and discrimination of several natures, amount them those relate to women. Although there is important progress in the women’s struggle for their rights along the history, it remains many disadvantages that women must face nowadays both at home and in the workplace. At home women have disadvantages in terms of the responsibility for growing up family, being in charge of household chores, and taking care of children’s education.
From the day women are born they are taught that women grow up, marry and have children. They are brainwashed into believing that this is what is expected of them and this is what will naturally occur. As a result, women carry the great deal of responsibility on their shoulders because they are protagonists in family life. Women are more active in taking care of children, and controlling of home’s economy than man. Moreover, they assume the most of household chores, for example cooking, washing, ironing and cleaning the house.
Because of motherhood, women usually stay at home after having children, and then, they continue to guide children’s education. They go to school meetings, supervise children’s home works, and help them to complete the assignments and to choose their future careers. Some men argue “they help” women at home, but this position have already an intrinsic evidence of the prominent role of women; why do they help instead of sharing the responsibility each other as equal partners? I have a married friend with three children, and she has a full time job as her husband.In the evening, when the couple arrives home, she has to cook, look after the children, and do many other household chores while her husband watch TV or read the newspaper. This situation is a repeated picture of many families around the world, where women are still in unfavorable position at home.
What happen with women in the workplace? They have often to face lower salaries, higher obstacles in their professional careers, and no fewer limitations in some disciplines. Many studies show that the most of women value flexibility, autonomy and a job with a social purpose above earning the highest salary or scoring the highest status position.They prefer people-oriented service jobs that are often not as well-paid as “male typical” jobs that require the same level of education. For example, teacher, social workers and nurses earn generally less than computer and other technicians. In addition, women often go out of the work force, or work part-time when their children are young, so their overall earnings take a hit on one hand.
Moreover, employers often discriminate against working mothers because they are not able to work for 12-14 hours days or cannot travel frequently. As a result, they are placed in support-staff positions which do not lead to senior management.Finally, many work environments are designed to fit the male career trajectory, for example law, physics and engineering. When I studied physics at the University, the quantity of women at my Faculty was really low, and teachers often were more demanding with female students than with male ones, because they thought that “physics was not for women”.
To sum up, women have the big challenge in both at home and in the workplace. That is why some governments are implementing more and more law to protect them, but the struggle for their equality is endless. Let’s join all to this just fight.
