Equality for Women

                In modern society, people are treated unfairly and cruelly because of their race, gender, religion, and abilities. Through reading, media, and simply the world around us, if you pay attention you will recognize small little things that are unfair. Studies show that women are paid less than men for doing the same jobs. Television shows that girls and boys have completely different likes and dislikes. Books show that people are treated badly because of things that they can’t help. After dissecting books and articles, it is clear that women and girls are often portrayed as lesser than men and are believed to have different focuses and goals.

                The book “The Daring Book for Girls” by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz is a guide to activities that girls can do with family and friends. This book gives suggestions such as activities to do in a slumber party, how to make your own doll, hair dos, and cooties. This book doesn’t talk about how girls can go hiking in the woods, do science experiments, play with Legos, and other activities that have come to be known as “boy things”. Women and girls have suddenly been portrayed as skinny and sensitive, or as many call them, “girly girls”. All in all, “The Daring Book for Girls” depicts girls as the “classic” girl with completely different interests of boys. 

                An article in Upfront Magazine discusses a current debate over single sex classrooms. The article talks about how girls have the inability to focus on subjects such as math and science with boys in the room. The article mentions how girls need special treatment and a calmer environment while learning these subjects. This claim is very upsetting because personally, math and science are my two favorite and best classes, both with boys in them. I sit between two boys in both science and math and I am able to focus and do well all the time. The article talks about how math and science are considered hard for girls but easy and fun for boys. The fact that people think that girls are unable to focus with boys in a room with them is false. Girls and boys have equal abilities and interests and should not be separated because of gender.

                Through media and books, it is clear that males are shown to be superior over women.  This is beginning to change but it seems as though we have a long way to go. Companies such as Dove and Toys R Us have proved that they want to help make this change by airing commercials that stand for the fact that all are beautiful and that boys and girls can have similar interests. Companies such as these two will help lead the way to equality for all. Women deserve to be given equal opportunities and shouldn’t be divided because of their gender.