The micro inequities
I am very fortunate to have been raised as an individual. My brother and I have always been treated equally by my parents and the fact I was a girl never changed their behavior: I was expected to be well behaved, to work well at school, to clean the table after meals, to be polite and the “be careful” - as my brother.
It’s in the outside world that I started noticing freedom cuts that were inherent to my gender. I grew up in France, where women have basic rights: we can go to school, drive, vote, marry freely, work, visit doctors without asking for male consent.
Most of the inequities that wither the freedom of women in developed countries are ingrained, cultural, sneaky and sometimes little enough that they go unnoticed by the majority.
Women’s right are still brushed off on the side and not prioritized while in France in 2019, 151 women were killed by their spouse/boyfriend/ex ; 100% of women have been harassed in the streets at least once ; 6,6% of women are CEO of the Fortune 500 ; 24,9% of parliamentarians are women globally ; women in the media are under represented with only 20% appearance rate.
There’s a couple reasons pointing this out is important to me: first there’s still a big portion of people (both women and men) not seeing - or wanting to see - why Feminists movements still exists, and paint them as not necessary, unjustified and as a movements against men. Second: the more micro inequities are pointed out, the more people who don’t naturally see them will and once you become aware, change starts.
Feminism is about freedom & equality. It’s about putting no gender above the other.
It’s not against or to the detriment of anybody. It’s for granting equals rights and equal chances to a gender that has been deprived exactly just that.
Here are some micro inequities women face:
Cultivating bias: girl can’t climb trees, can’t whistles, can’t be good at science, can’t be strong. Women should take care of the home / the kids / the food, women shouldn’t work too much, women should be quiet, kind, polite, well behaved… Watch the Be A Lady They Said video, so powerful. Gives a taste of the message society aims to brainwash women with.
Harassment: women being followed, whistled at, called names, touched, raped. Criticized for what they are wearing. Having to change sidewalks to avoid a man or a group of men. Not feeling safe when you are alone. Having to say you have a boyfriend / husband for a man to finally leave you alone because your simple “no” is not deemed acceptable.
Work inequality: gender pay gap (24% salary difference between man and women - still), promotion opportunities, number of women on Boards seats (20% in the USA in 2019), intimidation, harassment by fellow colleagues and managers. Not being heard when you present an idea during a meeting. Colleagues downplaying your impact. Not being part of the “boys club” slowing your career down. Parental leave not being proposed fairly to both women & men.
Social behaviors: not being proposed to choose or try the wine ever as if you don’t know or your opinion doesn’t count. Always handing out the bill or the car keys to the man. Praising men for having a multitude of dates while stigmatizing women for it. Calling women “bossy” when they are assertive.
Double standards for women: women deciding not to have children are considered selfish, told they’ll regret it, when it’s acceptable for men. When a dad takes care of his children they get “wows” when it’s considered normal for a woman. Expecting women to change their last name when they get married (and when they don’t, being viewed as less committed wives) & children expected to carry out their father’s name.
At this rate, we will reach equality in more than 150 years.
I encourage you to read, speak up, communicate, ask questions and relay the message of inclusiveness. It’s been proven a more balanced and diverse society would add $28 trillion to the global economy by 2025.
Diversity is our wealth, differences make us smarter.
What are the micro inequities you’ve witnessed and faced & what do you do to support the change?
