by Rosemary Redfern

Created on: October 07, 2010

Gender is the name given to men and women, to separate the reproductive roles of each, nothing more, nothing less. Most of us are one or the other, but there is a sliding scale of chromosomes.  To survive, every human has some basic needs. These cover: nutrition, shelter, warmth, love, occupation and companionship.  Without these we do not survive. 

What do we mean by gender equality? Why does the question arise? Members of both genders have a reproductive function if they want to use it, but the rest of their needs stem from being human and the need to survive. 

Members of the male gender tend to have certain characteristics in common.  Men tend to be interested in machinery, hierarchical structures, and being the most successful, but they are also proud fathers, and can be good and loving companions.  They are physically stronger than women.

Members of the female gender also have characteristics in common. They are interested in relationships with others, they like to share their issues for common support, they can make proud mothers and be loving companions. They are less physically strong than men. 

These characteristics have probably, no one knows for sure, developed because of the reproductive roles of the two genders. The idea that women can multitask probably comes from needing to watch the open fire in the cave, keep an eye on the children, be aware of any predatory animals around, all while trying to prepare a meal for the family. Men have good spacial senses generally, which might have come from the need to find prey to feed the family.

All this suggests is that while the genders have developed characteristics which help the species to survive, the basic elements of both genders remain the same. 

This suggests that both genders play an important role in the survival of the species, even today.  If this is the case, there is no argument for one gender being given superior status.  Intelligence is no different.  There is a wide variety in both genders. The difference comes in the interests of the individual.  Skills are no different. The difference comes from the natural facility of the individual. The interests men and women are sometimes different and sometimes the same. 

This begs the question, why are women seen as worth less money and status than men. Some women are more able to manage an organization than men.  A large family requires;  executive skills, the ability to designate tasks, planning, long and short term, the ability to resolve disputes, the ability to prioritize, the ability to maintain a working system.  All of these attributes are required to run a large company.  Yet men have placed a barrier to women being in the public domain.

Perhaps there is something else happening here. A male characteristic is protecting his family. If his wife is working in the public arena she is available to other men and other men are available to her. Trust is necessary to believe that most women are too busy to be promiscuous, and if she is, why.  Perhaps gender equality has developed from male sexual jealousy.  

Gender equality should be a natural thing. Members of both genders have skills of use to themselves and the community. Both should be valued equally.

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