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As George Santayana once observed, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This is an apt observation with relevance for the state of gender equality in this country. Young women take it for granted that gender discrimination is a thing of the past. They might be horrified to know that in some parts of the country businesswomen still report being refused loans if they cannot provide their husband's signature, even when their husband has nothing to do with the business. It has not been so many years since this was standard practice in all parts of the country.

Anyone who watches television or accesses the internet is constantly bombarded with messages that use women's bodies to sell everything from cars to vacation packages. The message is clear: women are sex objects whose function is primarily decorative. It is no wonder they are not always taken seriously. Women still make up only a tiny fraction of those in Congress. Even those who support traditional roles for women should find this disturbing, since studies have repeatedly shown that women in Congress do a much better job of looking out for the welfare of children.

Gender equality is not only a women's issue, however. Some commentators believe the public education system discriminates against young boys by insisting on a model of behavior that is not normal for them. Many believe that countless boys have been falsely diagnosed with ADD because they exhibit normal rambunctious behavior. While not everyone agrees that this is a widespread problem, it is definitely worth considering. The goal is a society that grants equality to all, not one that simply reverses course and begins discriminating against boys and men.

Some men may still feel that gender equality hurts them and that gender equality is something to be fought against. They are likely to change their minds when they have daughters. The truth is gender equality benefits everyone, resulting in happier marriages, and giving every person the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.

Sources:

Women in Congress: http://www.blackwell-synergy.c om/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-6237 .2007.00445.x?cookieSet=1&jour nalCode=ssqu

Discrimination against businesswomen: http://www.bizjournals.com/jac ksonville/stories/1996/08/19/s tory1.html

Discrimination against boys: Sommers, Chistina Hoff The War Against Boys Simon and Schuster, 2001

Egalitarian marriages happier: http://blog.cbeinternational.o rg/?p=68

Learn more about this author, Emily Wickersham.
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