Gender Equality: It goes both ways

The question that gets asked too often are you a feminist? Er no I am not at least not currently

Gender inequality the ever divisive and toxic area that must be encroached on, we have all by know heard the facts of inequality towards women. The lower pay, less likely to be hired into managerial positions or public office and the fact their careers are significantly hindered by having children. Not to mention the more social aspects like the sexualisation of women and the treatment of them in the criminal justice systems of the world.

All these issues and the ones I haven’t mentioned are terrible and must be stopped with efforts from both genders. And this for me is where the issues for gender equality arise, you often see articles in the paper or speeches by influential peoples stating that it’s an issue for both genders yet make no attempt to real them in and make no mention of the inequalities toward men. The Guardian did an article which called inequality an unjust gulf between men and woman and despite popular belief that statement goes both ways depending on the aspect of society you look at.

Lets start with Body image while it is true women are sexualised and are too often berated over their body image men are to where the “ideal” body being portrayed by the media and modelling world as the toned muscular body that is in fact often less healthy than the average Joe body, you often see posters of positive body image or women yet none for men (this image shows the hypocrisy in this issue). While nowhere near as objectified as women this feeds into a different issue.

The “real man”. I have read it and heard this phrase said so much and while little consensus exists on what is the real man one thing is clear emotional isn’t an aspect this perception that men should always be in control of their emotions and never show when they are hurting is preposterous and has led to a deal with it mentality. While not a inequality in itself does lead to inequalities in society.

Mental health, men are less likely to seek help with mental health issues and are far less likely to report crimes like sexual assault rape or domestic abuse and even if they do its less likely they will be helped. Male victims are less likely to get justice for the crimes done against them and despite making up a 3^rd of victims only 0.3% of domestic violence shelters take men,

Where it is true that women are paid less in managerial positions they also spend less time in prison the criminal justice system is very angled against men. Women can get sentenced up to 50% less time than men and spend less time of their sentences in prison than men. To accompany this, male prisons are overcrowded and rougher compared to women prisons, so not only do men spend longer in prison they are more likely to be assaulted while in prison.

In this article I am not trying to out shadow the inequality toward women and I’m trying to say is that the only way in which men and women are truly equals is in the inequalities they face. I am not saying stop fighting for female equality in feminism but what I am saying is that the movement that is fighting for gender is equality is flawed and unintentionally unequal.

That’s is why I am not a feminist until another movement starts up for male equality or feminism takes on that role as well I can’t claim to be a feminist. While less obvious and definitely less publicised the inequalities toward men are there and often have worse consequences.

Sadly, for me it is no surprise then that the biggest cause of death for men between 18-45 is suicide. Until people are marching through London with signs asking for equal pay, male shelters and mental health care until there are posters challenging the concept of the real man and real woman until people are fighting for actual gender equality I fear equality Is truly out of reach.