Growing up in the 21st century is an experience, to say the least. It’s weird to say that I am neither pleased nor displeased with the way the country is headed, because the meaning of the word “weird” is hard to nail down. I am obviously female; I am almost 22. I haven’t been around as long as many people, but I have had experiences in this male-dominated world that I still am not sure how to handle.
As much as we all (well, maybe not all) want to rid ourselves of the stereotypes that consume our being, it’s hard to do that when it’s all we know. Even into the 2000s, some still see a woman’s job as being inside the home, bearing and rearing children and not much more. She is the keeper of the house, she runs the errands, and is seemingly happy with her role in life. A man’s job is outside of the home. He isn’t required by society to take care of his children in any physical or emotional way because that’s what the mother is for. She fixes the children when they cry or are hurt, not the father. I do not believe that is true at all and I will argue with anyone who tries to tell me otherwise. Here is what I do know for certain: mothers and fathers are equal. Men and women are equal. They both have the ability to be successful in anything they try because they are not defined by these stereotypes.
I hate to break it to all of you out there who still follow stereotypes like they are the absolute end of story fact, they aren’t. Women do not belong in the kitchen. Men do not belong in the business world making all of the money. Women are quite capable of being just as successful as men when given the chance outside of the house. I know this is shocking to some, but it’s true. Women: you are capable of doing more than you think. Men: your wife or girlfriend could be more successful than even you will be.
Then again, maybe that’s the reason people don’t want women out in the real world. They’re afraid that women can and will be more successful than the men in their lives and that the man’s ego will be so hurt that he’ll never survive it. Oh, but he will. He’ll survive it just fine. His ego will be bruised for a while, maybe, but is that a justified reason to hinder his wife or girlfriend’s abilities?
Absolutely not.
As a woman, it’s hard to stand back and just watch women not strive for greatness. I have family members who let the man work while they stay at home and keep the house spotless. Do I agree with how they live? Nope. Both of my parents work and have for as long as I can remember. I grew up just fine. I’m getting ready to graduate college and I have a tax-paying job for money. Neither of my parents failed me because they were out of the house working. Neither of them. I’m glad they were working. My mother’s job wasn’t to keep the house clean all day, every day; it was everybody’s job. My dad helps with laundry, does dishes and other household chores. My sisters and I were required to help, too.
I know many fathers who rear the children in the home better than the mother. They kiss boo-boos and brush their children’s hair after their baths. Is there a problem with the household roles being shared between the woman and man? No. Sharing the household and parenting responsibilities is important. It’s how the children learn how to live in the real world. If a boy sees his father out working and his mother at home, he’s more likely to want his wife to stay at home and him work even if she doesn’t agree. These stereotypes seem to cause more harm than good when you examine them closer.
I don’t have a problem with anyone who wants to live their life by the stereotype book. If that works for you and your family, then fine, keep it that way, but know that there is much more out there in the world if a woman is given the chance to be more than just a stay at home wife and mother. I know there are women out there who love being stay at home moms and wives, but they also know that they can do anything they want.
Men are not the only people who keep this country or world running smoothly. It’s obvious that if it’s just men keeping the world running, they’re not doing a great job (if you take national news into account). I’ll leave you with some James Brown song lyrics that sum up my argument: “This is a man’s world, but it would be nothing, nothing without a woman.”
