Gender Equality

Gender equality continues to be a prevalent issue in society today due to the persistent gap in terms of access to opportunities for women and men. Gender equality is a fundamental human right that every human being is entitled to regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexuality or religion. The roles men and women play in society are socially determined and as a result the gender gap is wide. Stereotypically, women are known as the ones to stay home and cook and clean while the men are at their jobs earning money. However, gender roles in society are constantly changing. Traditional views of men and women have changed over the years. The contrasts between conventional gender roles and modern interpretations of it are subtle yet still looming even today. Although much has changed since the 20th century and we are closer than ever to achieving gender equality between men and women, there are underlying issues and societal norms that prevent this from being accomplished. We continue to have very traditional beliefs on what is distinctively ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’. As a result,both men and women alike are forced to defy the status quo to pursue their dreams. Everything we do must conform to societal norms and if it doesn’t, we are stereotyped. However, gender does not define a person. We are all human beings and women should not be inferior to their male counterparts. Feminism is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.  Hillary Clinton once said, “women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights.” Every human being has rights and gender equality will always be one of those rights. Gender equality is a global phenomenon that affects men and women worldwide. As wide as the gender gap is, most women especially in developed countries have more opportunities today than ever before. However, no country has truly attained gender equality. We need to close the gender gap in areas such as health, education, employment and political participation. The future of our world relies on the young women of today. We live the gender stereotype without even realising it. From an early age, we are conditioned to believe that our sons must wear blue and our daughters must wear pink. We are disillusioned to believe that we must fit into these socially constructed brackets of so-called “gender roles”. Realistically, we should not feel the need to conform to these ideals as they do not define us as human beings. What society fails to realise is that we are not all limited to these traditional gender roles. Gender equality is not just an issue for women. Men are also stereotyped by gender roles and as Emma Watson passionately outlined in her HeForShe speech, gender equality is not just a woman’s issue but men’s too. Every boy, man, girl, woman in this world has a right to gender equality. If women are given the opportunity to believe that they can achieve the things that men can then we would be one step closer to attaining gender equality. Every human being should be entitled to these equal rights. Due to the rise and dominance of social media in the 21st century, women and girls worldwide have been given a new voice that has never been heard before. We need to unlock the potential of women around the globe and empower them. Society has conditioned us to believe that women cannot achieve the things that men can. In reality, gender roles are just social and behavioral norms that are are considered appropriate in various social settings. Gender roles should not be restricted to what is considered “normal” by society. Political leaders, CEO’s and engineers to name a few are predominantly men while educational services and fashion are predominantly female-led industries. New Zealand is ranked sixth globally in terms of gender equality and political empowerment, according to the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report 2012, but we are 16th for gender pay equality, and only 15 per cent of our top companies have senior women leaders according to stuff.co.nz. We need to educate our sons and daughters alike to believe that they CAN be CEO’s if they set their mind to it. They CAN be political leaders if they work hard. They CAN pursue their dreams if they push themselves and break the gender stereotype. The next generation of girls could well be the ones to narrow our nation’s wide gender gap. However, will the gap ever be fully closed? Or will gender equality be one of those global issues that cannot be truly achieved?     

Reference:
http://www.teenink.com/opinion/discrimination/article/855337/Gender-Equality/

       

Christmas is Love

       Christmas is best enjoyed when it isn't centered on decorations, gifts, or festivities, but when love is at its core. Love is the essence of Christmas. Christmas should mean taking quality time with your family and friends. It's about cherishing and celebrating the love you share. —Jesus

        We are in that special season once again, a season of joy, of peace, of great tidings. A season when we celebrate the birth of Christ the King, the redeemer of mankind! Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is not all about merry making. We must also spare time to reflect on the essence of the period which is the love of God for humanity. This unquantifiable love is summed up in the popular bible verse John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten son, that who ever believe in him will not perish but have eternal life.”When we ponder on God’s love for us, we too are encouraged to share love with others, to embrace peace and be our brother’s keeper. When we are imbued with this love of God, we will be always willing to give a helping hand to those in need, to give succor and comfort to the vulnerable ones amongst others.

     
         The spirit behind Christmas is that of giving and sharing. The three wise men, on learning about the born child, came calling with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years… Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart. – George Matthew Adams t is December, the month of Christmas. Carols coming from every store, television set & radio, from church choir & ordinary people caught-up in the spirit of the season. Some of the carols are secular, some sacred with their various deep meanings.

Reference:
     https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/12/the-true-essence-of-christmas/   

Isulong: Tamang Pag-aaruga sa Bata

National Children’s Month is celebrated every October here in the Philippines. Mandated by Presidential Proclamation 267, it is a time to recognize the value of Filipino Children as the most valuable assets in the society. Observed by Government and Non-Government agaencies around the Philippines, the month-long celebration is also a campaign to end violence against children and to promote their physical, emotional, moral, spiritual and intellectual well-being.

According to UNICEF, every year millions of children around the world become victims of untold violence. Children in every country, every culture and at every social level face various forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. The abuse takes place at home, in school, in institutions, at work, in the community, in armed conflict and natural disasters. Much violence against children, such as corporal punishment and sexual abuse, remains legal and socially approved in many countries. The violence children face takes many forms, such as exploitation and abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating punishment, harmful traditional practices (including early marriage and genital mutilation/cutting) and recruitment into armed forces and groups. Growing up with violence and abuse seriously affects a child’s development, dignity, and physical and psychological integrity.

Reference:

http://www.stairwayfoundation.org/childrens-month-celebrating-our-most-precious-resource/