Essay: Gender inequality

Today, a substantial portion of the world’s population are living within certain restrictions due to their gender and sexual orientation. Particularly discussed in the speech made by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, executive director of The UN Women, women are suffering from an absence of human rights in the work world and in their own personal worlds. In celebration of International women’s day in March of 2015, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka made a factual speech in regards to gender inequality all around the world and how it can and will be conquered. “Gender equality is a shared vision of social justice and human rights” . This quote summarizes the main point of her speech. The issue of gender inequality is not a new battle and everyone must realize that change needs to be brought. How will the world ever reach its full potential while constraining women? The mission of the UN women is to reach their goals of providing full rights to all women by the year 2030. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka suggested, what she believes to be, three essential actions in the fight for gender equality: “tireless political will and unwavering leadership, increased investments in the agenda for women and girls, and strong accountability that includes a role for civil society” . The issue of gender inequality and of women’s rights might strike some people as a broad topic and might not be aware of what corrections would help to heal this international wound. Some remedies suggested to improve economic empowerment of women were for women to have more say in decisions involving themselves, for employment terms, including pay, and working conditions to be equal, as well as for the increased promotion of education and professional development. A point extremely stressed during this speech was how truly important the role of men is in curing this cancer of inequality. The UN women want men/boys to become a “HeForShe” which means to have an active and lived in masculinity, to fight for women as their equals.
Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, approached her speech in a very factual yet captivating manner. The point of view of her speech was from people who hold similar beliefs as herself and who are striving for a world of gender equality and increased rights for women. From the way this speech was written and presented, it is possible that Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka felt as though the importance of gender equality has already been talked about so much and therefore saw more value in the discussion about what can and should be done to conquer gender inequality, and who should do it. Specific acts were frankly suggested for governments, the private sectors, as well as men and boys to carry out. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka makes a call to action to men and boys in her speech while also targeting them as her audience. She explicitly addresses steps that men and boys could take in the fight to end gender inequality and related the completion of those steps to being a “HeForShe”, which means to be “active and lived positive masculinity” .  By mentioning the HeForShe’s, recognition was served in this speech to those men and boys who already fight for women’s rights as well as who will join the fight. Not included in this speech are the viewpoints of those who disagree with gender inequality, mostly males. These viewpoints might not have been included in order to focus solely on how to overcome gender inequality rather than to dwell on the non-believers. The parent organization to the UN Women, of which Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the Executive Director, is the United Nations, an international organization which aims for international co-operation . Influence from the United Nations on the topic of gender equality is major because gender inequality is not a localized issue, it is a widespread international issue which, in this speech, is being recognized by a major political and social influencer.
persistent gender stereotypes about women and men and girls and boys, are not second nature, and discriminatory norms and attitudes and beliefs no longer limit opportunities and outcomes.
I appreciate the point made in this article where Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka recognizes that the goal of gender inequality will not be met until stereotypes, attitudes and beliefs toward opposite genders are no longer affecters of opportunities and their outcomes . In respect to stereotypes, there are a vast amount made regarding men and women. Some stereotypes typically associated with men are that they are stronger, smarter, and more independent than women. On the other hand, there are also stereotypes that tend to be more closely related to women such as being more dramatic, having less authority, and being weaker than men . These stereotypes amongst others are partially to blame for a large amount of gender inequality in today’s world in the work force, home life, as well as places of worship. As of today, the Catholic Church teaches that only men can be priests, why the exclusion of women? According to Stephen B. Boyd, “Since God in Christ determined the specific nature of the sacramental sign, the church has no right or authority to change it and admit women to the priestly order” . Another point mentioned by Boyd is that God, in the objectified paradigm discussed in Boyd’s essay, is hypermasculine, meaning that God is omniscient and omnipotent .  By using the term “hypermasculine” and the words omniscient and omnipotent, Boyd is drawing a distinct line between how a male is known as (knowing everything and be able to do or control everything), and how a woman does not live up to those standards, or stereotypes rather. I genuinely appreciate the recognition that until gender stereotypes are diminished and not applied in these or any aspects of the world, that gender inequality will never be able to become a reality. The elimination of stereotypes will mark a new world, a world of peace and social justice for both genders. A point made in Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s speech regarding being a “HeForShe” is one that I feel necessary to expand upon. As discussed in her speech, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka says that being a “HeForShe” basically means that a man is for a woman, supporting women and taking the necessary steps, on their part, to enforce equal rights for women. Being a “HeForShe” should make a man feel even more like a man for taking a stand for women, who have just as much of a right to do the things men do, for the same pay and under the same conditions. A question circling this highly debated topic of gender inequality is why men look down on women and why men are unwilling to share jobs and positions with women. While this issue definitely takes a major toll on women, it also applies to homosexuals. The inequality between men and women, and between heterosexuals and homosexuals, is essentially based on the same fear from men and heterosexuals; that they are seeing traits and characteristics exhibited by women and homosexuals that they personally don’t think fit. In other words, men and women who are homophobic might be scared when they see someone of the same gender as them who is homosexual and exhibiting traits as the opposite gender (a male seeing another male acting in female ways)  . The way that certain men and women view themselves is in a way that they believe that the traits and characteristics that they have are simply just because of the gender that they are, and this is a major fault. Strength and weakness should not be pinpointed on one single gender, just like emotional and reserved should not be used to define one single gender. Depending on the person, traits will vary, and that is something that a lot of the world, mostly males and homophobes, do not understand.
How does it make a man feel more manly to discriminate against a woman simply because she is a woman? How does it make a heterosexual person feel more ‘normal’ by putting down someone who defines a love relationship differently than they do? Until the day comes, according to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka it will be around 2030, people need to work on seeing each other as equals to themselves, rather than above or below.