Yes

by Christyl Rivers

Created on: April 07, 2012

Living in a racist, sexist and homophobic culture, it would be ridiculous to think there is not some bias.  Just the act of asking the question begs the question of how could anyone think human beings are not always, at least, a little biased. Oppression exists and backlash against the perceived "favored" is going to happen.

Gender bias, as more and more people become aware of it, is impacted by reformers seeking to balance and often compensate for former injustice. Yet, when the same thing occurs in racist cultures, the upsetting issue of racism moves front and center, and not into invisibility.  Invariably, the ones historically thought to being treated unfairly stand up to point out the injustice. Those being favored, interestingly, find no fault with such a system, attributing all their success to having earned it. Both sides find ample evidence to support their claims.

In a world where there are still men making more than women for similar work, there are still more male heads of state, and there are still more government subsidies that profit males over females, there is going to be some backlash against that system.  There exists even in the 21st century, plenty of faith based prejudice. In those places where women are oppressed no one is happy.  Ever since Eve bit into that apple, she and her daughters have been blamed, burned, beaten and raped with far more frequency than males.

Schools are no different than all other institutions. They are bound by history and tradition. Even today, males in athletics still garner more praise, opportunity, scholarships and attention than females. Males, still are more likely to be encouraged in math, science and athletics more-so than females.  There are those who know this, and with good intentions seek to help girls out. This might work if it were uniformly applied, or fair, but people will always do what they see as right, not ever knowing consequences, or backlash.

Although the public education system attempts to make all as equal as possible, simple human bias, and biology favor boys in some areas, and girls in others.  Yet, most human behavior is and always will be unconscious and arbitrary. Society is still a long way from judging people by their unique talents and character.  Both boys and girls get cheated.

In school, depending upon which contradictory lesson they garner from peers, teachers and guardians boys and girls are treated differently. Part of this is due to ancient entrenched behaviors, and part is due to raised consciousness.  If you think boys and girls should be treated exactly the same, give a little boy a doll explaining he may one day be a father. Give a little girl a tank and explain she may one day be a soldier. Then be ready to watch the potential "daddy"  whack his baby on a wall or floor,  or through a basketball hoop.  The toy tank, one should not be surprised to find, may be emblazoned with flower stickers, and/or driven by a Bratz doll.

Girls and boys are different.  People who want them to be the same will be forever disappointed. They cannot be the same. Boys are rougher, tougher and meaner. Girls are biologically wired to nurture, be softer and more intuitive. They have separate gifts, and yes, lots of overlap too, or they would never get together on any issue, much less mate some day.

Anyone who has ever been present at a playground can see that boys are more aggressive. They left to wrestle, chase, and hit things. When this is against the rules, they learn to not get caught.  They disrupt class more, and are given much more attention. Girls love to huddle, play cooperative games, play house, Barbie, Bratz and create things.  They are early on into social inclusion and stratification.  Yes, there is also overlap, and tom boys are often confusingly praised and criticized for their personality.  Boys are teased if they dare to show the "weakness" of cooperation, caring, crying or creating.

Calling boys "girls, pussies, wimps, ladies, gay and sissies" are still the most common school yard insults. Calling girls "ho, bitches, sluts or worse is common too.  What does it teach boys when they are accused of being "girls" and they do not say "THANK YOU!"

Men and boys, and even some girls and women, are reluctant to self report as feminists. Culture still demands that with females their appearance is primary and their performance is taken for granted.  Boys are taught that they can get away with more, and yet still be criticized for objectifying girls.  A promiscuous boy is still praised while there are many, many terms (none favorable) for a promiscuous girl. Any entertainment show will showcase how women are portrayed as the pretty and sensible, and boys and men are portrayed as being helpless buffoons.  In cartoon shows especially, the men are fatter, from the Flintstones to Family Guy.

Until these things are recognized and corrected, there will always be bias. It is directed against boys and young men. It is also directed against girls and young women. Bias is human and change is slow. If imperfect adults, the only kind there are, run the system, it will always be so. This is what society has to work with,  enlist all dolls and tanks, let's roll.

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