113: Truth on Gender Equality (2)

【Petty Men】
The Global Gender Gap Index reveals the stubborn injustice that there’s not a single nation in the world where it’s gender neutral. Still, too many men insist, “Gender equality has gone too far; we now live in a women-privileged society.”
 
One of the explanations for this may be found in their voices of frustration, “It’s unfair! On the one hand, women say they’re weak so request favors. On the other, women say they’re strong so demand gender equality. Which is it? Decide now!”
 
However, when we take on a grander perspective, we come to realize that, in a sense, men are given an unfair advantage called the Gender Gap at birth. So, when men push women to “Decide now!” it’s more so that he’s being petty before she’s being unfair.
 
One way to look at this is when something is out of balance. In order to bring it to parity, the pendulum swings back and forth, gradually waning in motion as it approaches equilibrium. In the process, at times, the pendulum may happen to swing a little further than expected.
 
Now, let’s suppose that, as a petty man insists, the pendulum happens to swing in favor of women for a moment (we’re only supposing). Even if so, when we honestly admit that injustice has swayed the pendulum in favor of men for as long as the history of mankind, it’s only fair to accept it by extending our empathy/compassion to women who’ve been forced to endure the pain for so long.
 
But make no mistake; as the Global Gender Gap Index shows, the reality is that the pendulum hasn’t yet swung in favor of women. In fact, not even close.
 
Rather, we’re still very far from gender equality, let alone women privilege. As shared in the last post, this was true even more so in Japan at the time of Dazai/Endo, rendering their claims utterly ridiculous. And it’s only fair to say that today’s claim that “We now live in a women-privileged society” is also completely off the mark.     
 
To be frank, we have a responsibility to recognize the fact that men are given an unfair advantage at birth, and that unfairness is deeply rooted in our cultures.
 
For example, many cultures have a baked-in notion that “Women don’t need to study so hard,” or “Women don’t have to go out and work so hard,” or “Obedient women are more popular with men/easier to marry than women of high abilities.”
 
Without even saying them out loud, these ideas are so prevalent in our cultures, so much so that not only men but also many women tend to accept them. It’s because they’re baked into our daily lives from an early age, learned from who knows where including parents, relatives, schools, friends, TV, movies, music, and media.
 
And such atmosphere, the tone, the air in our society works the human subconscious to foster a social norm that “This is how women should behave.” And we’re forced to conform to it.
 
Those who conform are understood, praised, supported, and loved. Conversely, those who don’t conform are misunderstood, shunned, abandoned, and hammered down like a nail that sticks out. Often, people are swept away by the tide, while at other times they’re shoved into conformity by blatant discrimination.
 
The terrible truth is that such social norm alienates women who are only wishing for what’s right, what’s fundamental, the very basic equality, just as men and anybody else would. But wrongfully, it often foments hostility against feminism, which paves way to misogyny and male dominance.
 
In this way, knowingly or not, men are given an unfair advantage at birth.
 
Now, some men may exclaim, “But I never asked for an advantage!”
 
Nevertheless, whether we asked for it or not, this is the reality on a global scale. If a man doesn’t take action to remedy this situation, then it means that he either insists “Women are privileged, it’s unfair!” or remains willfully ignorant by looking away, all the while enjoying the unfair advantage given at birth. Talk about unfair, that’s so much more unfair.
 
Even then, when men choose to hold women down, force upon them the unjust social norm, and prefer the maintenance of status-quo instead of joining women to lift themselves up. As a responsible adult, that’s awfully shameful. That’s petty.

Read Next: Truth on Gender Equality (3)【Hesitant Women】
Read Previous: Truth on Gender Equality (1)【The Gap】
 
Complete Series: Truth on Gender Equality (1)～(6)
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Read Theme: Discrimination