Equality is based on the idea of having the opportunity to pursue the life you want whether you are a man or a woman. Yes, both men and women want equality.
In traditional cultures there were men's gender roles and women's gender roles based on the logic that women were giving birth and, therefore, needed to stay closer to home in order to nurse their young, care for their children, and work in the fields so she could keep an eye on the home. Men, on the other hand, not having these physical and biological requirements, were able to leave home for longer periods of time and hunt for food. This is where our gender roles originated. Neither job was easy, but it allowed the community to function.
Today, women have much more freedom to decide whether or not to have children due to birth control. They can put off their childbearing years, become educated, and work as professionals. They are able to be a part of our economic structure, and contribute as much as men. When they do choose to have children, they are able to adjust their lifestyles to continue working, while still providing the needs to their children. They can pump their breastmilk, arrange childcare, and still perform a job as well as a man.
Men also gain when men and women are considered equal. Even a generation ago, a stay-at-home dad was considered a novelty. In many ways, he still is. But having equality allows men to have more choices in the way they live their lives. While women can choose to be stay-at-home moms or professional working women, men are also given the same opportunity. They are no longer forced to carry the burden of supporting the entire family, but are allowed to work part-time, full-time, or be a stay-at home parent based on the family's situation.
Here's where we have a problem when discussing equality. If women are still making $.77 to a man's $1.00, and have social equality, the woman is providing for her family for almost 25% less money. That clearly isn't fair to the family. A woman can have the same higher education, the same job and responsibilities, and then come home with 25% less money. She is expected to perform as well as a man, but come home with less compensation.
Personally, this is where I demand equality. I have more education than my husband, an excellent resume, and substantial experience. Since I gave birth to our daughter, he spends more time at home to cut childcare costs. I have to support my family with my salary, health benefits, and retirement fund, but if I'm making 25% less than my male counterparts, I have to work harder just to be considered equal. This is after fighting all of the social stereotypes of being a working mom.
Discussing equality is much more complicated than a simple essay. Creating full social, financial and gender equality is more like a dissertation discussion than an essay. There was a time not long ago that women weren't allowed to have credit cards in their own name, or be allowed to receive a higher education, or even be allowed to vote. This gives us some pride in the strides we have made over only a few generations.
Anyone who says that men and women don't want equality are saying it's okay if women don't drive, that women must clothing that completely covers the entire body, and aren't allowed to make her own choices without her husband's approval. Is that really the kind of life men and women want? I doubt it.