Yes

by Ann Major

Created on: July 06, 2010   Last Updated: July 12, 2011

Attitudes, traditions, customs and much lip-service has been given to promote manhood and to denigrate that of women.  Disfavor towards women has been reflected throughout the annals of history; reflected in the age-old fairy tale of the knight in shining armor, come to rescue the damsel in distress, whisking her away, to live happily forever after.

Principle of the "First Born":

Traditionally, males have always been favored as the "first-born", especially by fathers.   In Western society, excuse is given one cannot play ball or do all those masculine activities with a girl, as can be between father and son.   A male is desired to carry on the family name, to create an immortal lineage, much to the distress of a female offspring. Of course, that has given way to a more relaxed attitude concerning wanting a boy offspring first, feminism has brought about some changes in social mores.

This favoring of males is very much demonstrated by Asian societies, especially China.   Daughters are looked upon as encumbrances and a liability to the family organization because they are not considered bread-earners and contribute little to family survival.  Often abandoned or sold off to richer families, this love of male has come back to haunt them.  In China, because all parents have chosen to have a boy first, this priority has resulted in very few females to go around when it is now time for these males to marry. 

Women as Chattel:

Women cannot be favored when they are demeaned at home and have all human rights taken away from them.  Arranged marriages still exist in many countries and have interfered with female freedom.  Historically, dowries were created to entice suitors to take a daughter off a father's hands.  Upon marriage, women often had to relinquish property previously inherited to the husband.  Does that sound like favoritism to you?

Previously,  Native Indian women could not own property.  If she did, it was automatically her husband's upon marriage.  Should an Indian woman wish to leave the tribe or reservation, she automatically lost claim to any property she had.  Of course, if she should marry outside her race, her possessions were immediately confiscated.

As for East Indian women, the tradition of being burned with her deceased husband on a funeral pyre states she is not a person without the presence of her husband. Still, isolated cases have been reported in remote parts of India where this custom is still practiced.   

Women as Sex Objects/Objects of Abuse:

The atrocity of Muslim women being made to wear burqas showing only their eyes is a bold assumption that females are so hated in their society, they must be treated as objects and property of men.  They are such an abomination to men, everything must be covered. They are not allowed in public unless accompanied by a male of the family.  That is blatant and flagrant disrespect towards women.  Now the controversy in France of voting burqas being worn in public places by Muslim women, with education for the women, and fines for their husbands should they break or disregard this law.

From female prostitution to human trafficking; women as sex objects and sex slaves stoke a prevalent criminality.  In strict male sense, women are often seen as sex objects decorating a harem, concubines for great men, mistresses of married men, and harlots with lovers.  This portrayal or lowly depiction certainly harbors no favoritism towards their gender.

In Chinese society, there was a time when being a widow held its own stigma.  Widows were looked upon as "used" women, and remarrying was taboo.  We've come a long way since then.

Exclusivity of Clubs/Sports/Armed Forces:

Male domains have long ostracized and kept women from joining.  With mentality of the "Old Boys Club" still holding, women cannot join the Freemasons without their husbands nor can women be in the United States Infantry to fight along their counterparts.  Congress has passed a law forbidding this.

Certain sports still remain a male domain.  Even when women break out to form their own teams, they are ridiculed and laughed at for their venture forward.  Only strong exceptions of the female athlete are able to break through the confines of sports like hockey, baseball, race car driving, etc.

Ascension to the Throne:

Women are not favored when it comes to the question of leadership.  Men have always been at the top of the totem pole when it comes to the monarchy.  In spite of conspiracies to keep women away from the throne, the gentler sex have managed to climb their way to the top by either killing, poisoning, or becoming regents in order to gain power to an elusive throne.  Since lineage always fell to the males first for ascension to the throne; Queen Elizabeth II of England managed to thwart a pecking order when her uncle abdicated and married American divorcee, Mrs. Wallace Simpson. 

As free-thinking as she is, America has yet to elect her first female president while other countries have forged ahead decades ago.  Now, the last bastion of "maleness", Australia has elected their first female Prime Minister.  Kudos to Australia!

Feminist Movement and Pay Equity:

Men are favored in society when women's value and worth is not measured by their pay checks.  The sixties and seventies saw a feminist movement which chanted "Equal pay for equal work."  Now that both partners in a marriage are major breadwinners, men continue to earn just a little bit more than women.  Conditions for equal parity have improved, but it still remains that if women want recognition and favor from society, she must prove herself twice as worthy, and must do everything to supersede the efforts of men.

Learn more about this author, Ann Major.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.