Gender Inequality: Are We Making Progress?

“Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong...it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.” -Emma Watson

At the moment one of the biggest issues that is constantly overlooked is gender equality. It is an issue that can be observed all over the world in almost every aspect of life. Many jobs still pay women less than men, America still hasn't had a female president and nearly all female sports leagues have less support and funding. These problems might have been brought out, discussed and solved a long time ago if it wasn’t for our outdated patriarchal society.

There are still many gender stereotypes that have a stronghold on society. JoJo Siwa is a perfect example of this, holding back progress by promoting stereotypical views on society, like the idea that all girls should wear pink and act stereotypically ‘girly’. Gender stereotypes are all over the media as well. We see them in superhero franchises that focus on males being big, strong men who punch first and ask questions later.

This is not to say that society hasn’t made advancements in gender equality. Marvel for example has recently released its first female led movie, which shows that our society is making progress, just very slowly.

I decided to ask one of the members of the FemCo (a Feminist Collective at Northcote), Emmy what we can do to get rid of some gender stereotypes, and she made a few suggestions.

“We can stop participating and tolerating gender stereotypes, have an open mind and educate others on the problem. Teachers can make simple changes in the classroom by using appropriate gender language.”

What Emmy said is really important and shouldn’t be overlooked. It needs to be heard because dismissal and failure to take action is exactly what causes the problems that have been brought up in this article.