Poetry and Storytelling by Kai
WORDS BY KAI. This site is the home of creative expression fueled by passion and inspired by the sparks of a my starlight muse. On these pages you will find my creative voice in lines of poetry, thoughtful essays and commentary, creative storytelling, and in an array of beautiful words to inspire the logophile in us all.
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Learn new words with the Word of the Day and the topic Word Lists. Build your new vocabulary with new words, old words, obscure words and untranslatable words from faraway lands.
HOMEPAGE ~ SITE DIRECTORY ~ ABOUT
- ORIGINAL POETRY [A -F] [G-M] [N-Z]
- THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY - [Personal Narratives] [Informative Articles] [Social Commentary]
- CREATIVE STORYTELLING
Learn new words with the Word of the Day and the topic Word Lists. Build your new vocabulary with new words, old words, obscure words and untranslatable words from faraway lands.
THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY
Commentaries and essays on a variety of topics including parenting, the capacity for love, emotions, mindfulness and social issues.
Directory - Social Commentary
Erasing the Gender Divide
Erasing the Gender Divide - a Commentary on the MeToo Movement and the Perversion of Justice
I personally identify as a feminist and I fight for gender equality by empowering women and by seeking to further the cause for gender neutrality. All feminists are different even though we all carry the same basic principles set in place when women fought and won the right to vote. My feminist ideals align with humanist views. I believe that men and woman are equal and should be treated the same without any consideration to gender. Please note that this is specifically written about the gender divide between men and women. I believe there are other gender identifications however their cause is out of scope of this article and deserves its own.
The Chris Hardwick case garners media coverage and massive social media attention because Hardwick is a well known entertainment personality with a personal brand worth millions. But within the confines of law and order he is just like any man wrongfully accused of sexual or emotional abuse. He is no different than your father, brother, friend, or partner going through the same thing. So while this case may look like the story of one person it’s really the story of all innocent men who sit accused of sexually based crimes they did not commit.
But wait, this what does Hardwick have to do with gender equality? First let’s talk about gender equality, the MeToo movement, and the gender bias that continues to this day.
The fight for Gender equality predates the fight for equal rights. You can trace it back to the evangelical Shakers of the 1700s who broke off from the Quaker community to lead a gender balanced lifestyle. But if were to acknowledge when the fight had the most societal impact we have to look at the suffrage movement of the late 19th century in which women gained the legal right to vote and to own property. The fight did not end there
Gender equality is the fight started by our grandmothers and it is a fight we continue to this day. Equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunity, and equal benefits are all a part of the fight. Feminists fight for men and women to benefit equally with the same rights and privileges with neither gender offered more.
Please consider the following definition of gender equality from the ABC Of Women Worker's Rights And Gender Equality
Gender equality, equality between men and women, entails the concept that all human beings, both men and women, are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender roles and prejudices. Gender equality means that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favoured equally. It does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equity means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities.
— ABC Of Women Worker's Rights And Gender Equality, ILO, 2000. p. 48.
Gender equality is the goal, while gender neutrality and gender equity are practices and ways of thinking that help in achieving the goal.
Gender equality is the end goal that we seek and we use two practices to help achieve that goal; neutrality and equity.
Of course men and women are different and the best example of that is pregnancy and childbirth. But for my example please consider the biological fact that men are physically stronger than women and because of this they may excel better in a physically demanding job like construction for instance. However, a physically strong woman should also be afforded the opportunity to interview for that job and be given the same consideration as a man. Merit should always overpower gender during the examination of candidates.
On the surface the MeToo movement looks like it’s only for women. The loudest voices come from women, especially in the entertainment industry. But in reality it is a movement for all people who have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Women are not the only ones who can be abused, harassed or raped. Men suffer these atrocities too. The difference is that men do it in silence. These cases go unreported and we could only theorize that these victims are embarrassed and are protecting their masculinity and dignity. Their silence unfairly propagates the idea that men can’t be victimized and therefore the law does not apply to those perpetrators and they go unpunished for their crimes.
The MeToo movement is for justice for all victims and by excluding men based on gender it is practicing sexual discrimination. This practice contradicts the platform in which it was created and for which it it stands and it reduces its credibility as a vehicle for societal change. This part of the definition is easily ignored by those seeking to advance the agenda for women. Equality needs to be acknowledged as gender neutrality and this fight for social change dictates that all benefits, rights and privileges be afforded to all regardless of sexual identity. This includes men in the fight for justice in the MeToo movement. Victims should not be differentiated based on gender.
Gender equality means rights and privileges and justice for all. Not just women. Not just men. I fight for this equality and I hope you will too.
I personally identify as a feminist and I fight for gender equality by empowering women and by seeking to further the cause for gender neutrality. All feminists are different even though we all carry the same basic principles set in place when women fought and won the right to vote. My feminist ideals align with humanist views. I believe that men and woman are equal and should be treated the same without any consideration to gender. Please note that this is specifically written about the gender divide between men and women. I believe there are other gender identifications however their cause is out of scope of this article and deserves its own.
The Chris Hardwick case garners media coverage and massive social media attention because Hardwick is a well known entertainment personality with a personal brand worth millions. But within the confines of law and order he is just like any man wrongfully accused of sexual or emotional abuse. He is no different than your father, brother, friend, or partner going through the same thing. So while this case may look like the story of one person it’s really the story of all innocent men who sit accused of sexually based crimes they did not commit.
But wait, this what does Hardwick have to do with gender equality? First let’s talk about gender equality, the MeToo movement, and the gender bias that continues to this day.
The fight for Gender equality predates the fight for equal rights. You can trace it back to the evangelical Shakers of the 1700s who broke off from the Quaker community to lead a gender balanced lifestyle. But if were to acknowledge when the fight had the most societal impact we have to look at the suffrage movement of the late 19th century in which women gained the legal right to vote and to own property. The fight did not end there
Gender equality is the fight started by our grandmothers and it is a fight we continue to this day. Equal rights, equal pay, equal opportunity, and equal benefits are all a part of the fight. Feminists fight for men and women to benefit equally with the same rights and privileges with neither gender offered more.
Please consider the following definition of gender equality from the ABC Of Women Worker's Rights And Gender Equality
Gender equality, equality between men and women, entails the concept that all human beings, both men and women, are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender roles and prejudices. Gender equality means that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favoured equally. It does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equity means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations and opportunities.
— ABC Of Women Worker's Rights And Gender Equality, ILO, 2000. p. 48.
Gender equality is the goal, while gender neutrality and gender equity are practices and ways of thinking that help in achieving the goal.
Gender equality is the end goal that we seek and we use two practices to help achieve that goal; neutrality and equity.
Of course men and women are different and the best example of that is pregnancy and childbirth. But for my example please consider the biological fact that men are physically stronger than women and because of this they may excel better in a physically demanding job like construction for instance. However, a physically strong woman should also be afforded the opportunity to interview for that job and be given the same consideration as a man. Merit should always overpower gender during the examination of candidates.
On the surface the MeToo movement looks like it’s only for women. The loudest voices come from women, especially in the entertainment industry. But in reality it is a movement for all people who have experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Women are not the only ones who can be abused, harassed or raped. Men suffer these atrocities too. The difference is that men do it in silence. These cases go unreported and we could only theorize that these victims are embarrassed and are protecting their masculinity and dignity. Their silence unfairly propagates the idea that men can’t be victimized and therefore the law does not apply to those perpetrators and they go unpunished for their crimes.
The MeToo movement is for justice for all victims and by excluding men based on gender it is practicing sexual discrimination. This practice contradicts the platform in which it was created and for which it it stands and it reduces its credibility as a vehicle for societal change. This part of the definition is easily ignored by those seeking to advance the agenda for women. Equality needs to be acknowledged as gender neutrality and this fight for social change dictates that all benefits, rights and privileges be afforded to all regardless of sexual identity. This includes men in the fight for justice in the MeToo movement. Victims should not be differentiated based on gender.
Gender equality means rights and privileges and justice for all. Not just women. Not just men. I fight for this equality and I hope you will too.
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
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© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY