[Bells]

“Women nowadays have the tools to achieve everything they want.” How would you respond to this statement?

This debate isn’t so much about women’s rights, either in the past or present.
You can either respond with your own views straightaway, or firstly go on to read mine.


My view:

Although these days there is definitely a smaller gap between the way we perceive men and women, that is in fact not the case in many Third World Countries. Furthermore, because the root of the problem goes so far back, both in social and religious contexts, it’s difficult for women to feel 100% free. This is mainly because past principles etc. still relate to some women, even if they are not thrust upon us much in this day and age. Therefore, can they really strive to achieve whatever they want to?

Because of the plentiful different cultures that exist in the world, that follow certain faiths perhaps, lots of people will still have the frame of mind that existed in old society due to the conditions etc. they live in, even though the times are changing.

More directly in response to the original statement however, I do think that in modern society – mainly in the western world – the bridge between male and female equality is narrower, and in terms of ‘achieving everything they want’, i.e. getting a job, women are still managing to obtain them.

However, there still exist jobs which are considered to be more male-oriented, despite the fact that females are continuously trying to prove they have similar abilities. It does touch upon the entire ‘battle of the sexes’ debate slightly; in terms of biological differences and how men would therefore be more adept at jobs such as builders, firemen etc. (to name a few examples).

In short, even though women may feel they have the ‘tools’ i.e. opportunities to get what they want, the main problem lies in the frames of mind of people. If we’re hopeful that it’ll happen, that’s something that will take a long, long time to change.

[gracie24]

I think in a sense, that women have always had the necessary tools to achieve what they want, it's just the mentality of society and of the individuals to be able to use the tools.

[KissyLittleMissy]

if you go for an office job or secretery stuff like that women get those jobs anyroads before men. if its building sites, brick laying things like that, then men will prob get job anyroads also. i dont think women get treated any diff really in that sense thats always the way so i heard. what women and girls have that men dont realise is that men fall at our feet for our beauty and love beggin to go out with us while we just select at our leisure oh the pretty girls who just know it

im bi anyroads so i just have fun n stuff with mates, but i know that women and girls have it all anyway, but for some things id say men have the cushy jobs and have other good things which women girls dont but im happy bein me all girl and happy with it

dont let men bring the powerful sex down t o their level only jokin fellers

[Shaun]

I'd say that women were very empowered and equal in the West, with more and more women making the top rich lists and becoming businesswomen in all walks of industry. Just 50 or so years ago you'd never have dreamed of women being builders, drivers, managing directors... anything really.

However, in the Middle East and other predominantly-Islamic states, this is obviously not the case, and internationally I still feel that women are sometimes treated as inferior to men.

[Retroman]

I can't think of any occurances in our country recently, that involve women not receiving jobs due to their gender. I see endless supermarkets, shops, jewellery stores, offices etc FILLED with only women and especially young girls, either because their boss is perverted or they simply think sex/women sell. Although there may be the odd one or two jobs women don't receive, eg. A job such as "White Van Man" or some form of labourer.

At the end of the day, the sexes are genuinely different in a physical manner on a whole. Some women are bigger/stronger than some men, and some men are weaker/smaller than some women, but as a majority im sure we're all willing to admit [and if you aren't, you can always refer yourself to scientific research.] that men are stronger than women. So if a woman is turned down due to her not being physically capable, that's not sexual discrimination, the same would happen to a weak man who isn't upto the job physically.

Also, women have the capability [not all, but some.] of exploiting the opposite sex, either through flirting/gestures/sexual acts etc, mainly due to mans lack of resistance to such offers. Men as a majority are much easier to manipulate than women are, through the art of sexual matters.

However, if we're talking about certain countries...
None of this comes into play, either because the country is still living in the past when it comes to womens rights, or the lack of money in that country means dressing up/looking good/flirting/sexual offerings/sex & women sell, just wouldn't work for the women over there.

Id say women have many jobs that they'll often receive purely because of their gender/the boss' frame of mind. And im sure there are jobs they won't receive because of their gender, or the boss' frame of mind.

And the same for men.

I only ever see men only workforces in the labouring department, or similar.
Whereas I see women only workforces in many retail/office/general based jobs everywhere I go.

The only place I see this being drastically different is in various other countries ruled by faith, or hindered by poverty, or outdated laws.
We simply can't help their poor development, and only hope they make changes in the future. Or invest lots of money into their country to raise it to our status, or that of the US, which won't ever happen.