Why should men support women empowerment? Why should one support equality knowing that it might take away one’s own privilege? In my opinion, it is all about perspectives.
What is gender equality? I believe many of you read and hear this term all the time. Around the world, there are several campaigns promoting what is called “feminism”, which is not only for the interest of women, but rather the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.
Does this inequality really exist? It is actually not surprising to hear that women take only 29% of senior management roles (Thornton, 2019) while also getting paid less than men by an average of 15 percent (OECD, 2017). Recently, news broke out that a female co-writer of the Crazy Rich Asians movie dropped out of its sequence’s production, as she was earning only a one-eighth salary compared to her male coworker. One-eighth!
The thing is, does it really mean that promoting the equality will make it worse for the current privileged party? Is it always about winning or losing? Actually, men could also benefit from women’s empowerment in several ways.
Women empowerment strongly generates growth. Well, two is better than one! Women make half of the world population and eventually 48.5 percent of the global labour force (ILO, 2018). Women do not only help generate economic growth but also development in general. In a study, women tend to transfer income to children’s welfare more than men if the money is in their hands, which would benefit the household more (Revenga & Shetty, 2012). They also generate business faster in some regions, as women are already doing entrepreneurial informal work. This goes in accordance with the statistics that micro-credit has long been mostly given to women at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, as they are believed to be more trustworthy and responsible (Sen, 1999).
Not only that women empowerment could help contribute to the overall society but also could directly benefit men. Gender equality could set a happier standard to men’s life. Before, men are approached as the sole bread winner of the family (Litton-Cohn, 2014); that income generating to support the family is totally his responsibility. Allowing women to equally work and support the household will help relieve the stress from men’s shoulders. This more time allotted would then give men more opportunity to relax and treat themselves, while also having more time to spend with their children. Gradually, it will help generate diverse household structures where men could also be a full-time father without being judged by the society.
Promoting equality will also help eliminate other unequal treatments on men. It is about how sexes are neutralised and not considered as a factor at all. One clear example is how women are still objectified or valued only by their appearance, as seen through cat-calling behaviour and all-photoshopped-to-the-norms advertisement. But what about the fact that men could also be judged by their body and clothing too? Would it not be better if men could also show their emotions straightforwardly or take ballet classes or wear pink?
Hiding under inequality where women are more oppressed are also the struggles of men under the different treatment. In some culture, such as in Thailand, one component of marriage is the dowry payment which the groom must give to the bride’s family. The amount given not only considers women as a belonging to the family which is to be “sold out”, but at the same time used as a judgement on a man’s suitability as a husband too. That does not include the pain and effort needed to be made to accumulate all those asset occurring on only one side of the marriage, men’s side. In addition, in Chinese culture male heirs are most prioritised in the family and would generally be inheriting the family’s business. What about men who are being forced to drop their dream careers due to the expectation of continuing the family’s legacy?
Last of all, men are not only husbands but fathers. Women empowerment will significantly benefit your daughters. You do not want your little girl to be badly treated; you want her to feel proud, confidence, and secured. That is the environment that you need to help create. One can start by putting someone who really cares for her as the decision maker, supporting women’s involvement in important positions, and letting them be their role models. For example, the support of women’s equal education would help make many more stories and experiences to come for your children.
Women empowerment is a matter of priority. Many benefits could be generated for the society. Equality can create growth, but growth cannot create equality by itself. That is why all genders must help. For girls thinking that the matter is not important, please know that the liberty you have now are actually the results of the hard works your fellow ladies had contributed. And for men, it is for yourselves.
References:
International Labour Organisation (2018). World Employment Social Outlook: Trends for Women 2018: Global Snapshot. Geneva.
Litton-Cohn, C. (2014). 12 reasons why empowering women should be the world’s top priority. Retrieved from https://matadornetwork.com/ change/12-reasons-empowering-women-worlds-top-priority/
OECD (2017). The Pursuit of Gender Equality: An Uphill Battle. OECD Publishing, Paris.
Revenga, A., & Shetty, S. (2012). Empowering Women Is Smart Economics. Finance & Development, 49(1).
Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. Oxford University Press.
Thornton, G. (2019). Women in Business: Building a Blueprint for Action.
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