When children have unequal rights in their homes, they project the same divided culture in the outside world.
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It is the 21st century and generally speaking we’ve never lived better. However, in many parts of this world, gender differences are still on exactly the same level as they were in the Middle Ages.
- How can we fight that?
- How can we promote gender equality in our society?
- How can you have it in your home?
Children are great learners and the best way to teach them is by example. Instead of preaching, parents should make a statement of gender equality by doing that. Actually, it’s very easy. All you have to do is exclude male or female defined responsibilities in your family. The father can do the dishes and clean, and the mother can be the family’s first car driver or budgeting planer. Moms and dads must act equally in front of their children and never show doubt or animosity in their actions.
A very important part of securing gender equality is the way you raise your children. Even when they are very young, parents should treat children equally in every possible way.
You can try to raise children without the usual distinctive borders of boy’s and girl’s interests. Dolls and cars should be presented equally during their playtime. Super heroes, Barbie, princess’s castles, swords and sports equipment, all must be in their presence regardless of being boys or girls.
At the end, we must understand the real nature of gender equality and the necessity of that. When children have unequal rights in their homes, they project the same divided culture in the outside world. In situations like that, it is very hard to battle racism, nationalism, poverty, and social injustice or to create non-violent societies based on respect and understanding.
One man or women can’t change the world, but they can do a lot for that world by changing the rules in their own home.
Originally posted on BestWayWorld. Reprinted with permission.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Yep. Tried it while engaged to a feminist. Didn’t go over too well when it was her turn to shovel out the cars while I grabbed another half hour of sleep. That was a bit facetious, but I am trying to make the point that although we are speaking to men, on a board dedicated to greater awareness for men, it is women, at this point in time, that we have to begin to teach what true equality is. What it is not is a buffet where a woman gets to pick and choose which “equalities” suit her…and leave the… Read more »
Absolutely DJ. Well said re this equality thing we’re talking about here. I’m right there with you on that one.
I think it all boils down to is not strictly defining tasks done only by men or women. I vacuum, do the laundry, wash dishes as well as my wife does. She also works landscape projects, lighter construction that she can do. We don’t have kids, but if we did they’d see that dad does traditional women’s work, mom does traditional men’s tasks too, and thereby they’d get a different view of the world going forward. I think you’re right tom about gender equality just by the very nature of partnership, no matter who does the tasks. But I think… Read more »
Interestingly, being raised in a house with only male siblings, it was our mom who taught us to do the dishes (as soon as we were able to reach the sink) do laundry, vacuum etc. There was no gender connected to doing household chores. And it was dad who taught me all I needed to know about home repair, automotive etc. It’s just the way it was. To this day, my ironing skills are superior to my wife’s … So maybe what we should be talking about is how some parents let their kids get off without responsibilities in the… Read more »
That’s probably a better discussion Tom. I think its great your mom had you do that stuff, your dad other stuff. So you could show your kids dad does both. Perfect.
So you’re not interested in “equality” as much as you want to make the genders the same. My wife and I are equal but play different roles in the family. What you’re saying that the person who may do vacuuming has less value then the person who paints the house? Now, how do you reconcile the “gender” thing when it comes to laying a flag stone patio which is something my wife was not at all interested in. Or how about something like removing a washer and dryer from your basement, up one flight of stairs and then down a… Read more »