Gender Equality in Thought and in Practice
Much like freedom, the abstract of gender equality which is at the core of the NY Times article “Equal Rights for Women? Survey says: Yes, but…” is widespread only in theory. People believe in and want freedom and gender equality, but they’re not making it happen. Basically, the article states that from samples of 22 nations, gender equality is wanted and pursued in thought. In reality though, men and women are both consciously and unconsciously slowing the process down. The article builds on the clash of wanting and having (or in this case, not having) gender equality. My take: The statistics back up the claim, but holes of the argument are in the process, the gray areas and the missing information.
I recognize the effort to infuse statistical information with a less black-and-white survey. Still, the two kinds of sources of information draw from categorical questions:
1. Do you want gender equality?
2. Do men deserve more of the job opportunities?
3. Do women live a better life in your country?
Yes, the interpretation of data was tedious and informative. I can’t disagree with the facts, but I’m surely not alone in raising questions. What is a better life in your standards? I wasn’t in this survey, so how many were? The answer to the latter ranges from 700 to 2000 people per urban and stable areas of each nation. Nowadays, I don’t trust sample surveys. After all, diversity of individuals’ collection of thoughts and beliefs keep growing. This case is no different in seeming significantly little, sample-wise.
Moreover, the lack of important variables such as educational attainment of the nation’s population, religious backgrounds and historical backgrounds will surely increase the discrepancy of information. To end with an example, Pakistanis believe that women deserve jobs less than men, and that is also the practice. Well, Pakistan faces family planning and population control issues. Think of this: If men were educated in such a way that they think women should stay at home, how hard is it to come up with the logic that If women had jobs to keep themselves occupied, they wouldn’t be bored at home making more babies, wouldn’t they?
*Was that out of character? My bad you guys. This is a writing workshop output. Haha In true Filipina, Kulasa, UP Student Fashion, I crammed the finish in. =)) *
Much like freedom, the abstract of gender equality which is at the core of the NY Times article “Equal Rights for Women? Survey says: Yes, but…” is widespread only in theory. People believe in and want freedom and gender equality, but they’re not making it happen. Basically, the article states that from samples of 22 nations, gender equality is wanted and pursued in thought. In reality though, men and women are both consciously and unconsciously slowing the process down. The article builds on the clash of wanting and having (or in this case, not having) gender equality. My take: The statistics back up the claim, but holes of the argument are in the process, the gray areas and the missing information.
I recognize the effort to infuse statistical information with a less black-and-white survey. Still, the two kinds of sources of information draw from categorical questions:
1. Do you want gender equality?
2. Do men deserve more of the job opportunities?
3. Do women live a better life in your country?
Yes, the interpretation of data was tedious and informative. I can’t disagree with the facts, but I’m surely not alone in raising questions. What is a better life in your standards? I wasn’t in this survey, so how many were? The answer to the latter ranges from 700 to 2000 people per urban and stable areas of each nation. Nowadays, I don’t trust sample surveys. After all, diversity of individuals’ collection of thoughts and beliefs keep growing. This case is no different in seeming significantly little, sample-wise.
Moreover, the lack of important variables such as educational attainment of the nation’s population, religious backgrounds and historical backgrounds will surely increase the discrepancy of information. To end with an example, Pakistanis believe that women deserve jobs less than men, and that is also the practice. Well, Pakistan faces family planning and population control issues. Think of this: If men were educated in such a way that they think women should stay at home, how hard is it to come up with the logic that If women had jobs to keep themselves occupied, they wouldn’t be bored at home making more babies, wouldn’t they?
*Was that out of character? My bad you guys. This is a writing workshop output. Haha In true Filipina, Kulasa, UP Student Fashion, I crammed the finish in. =)) *
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