There is no society where men and women are ranked equally, treated equally or perform equal functions. All societies
have some form of gender inequity and most, discriminate against women. Women are at a basic disadvantage:
1. In the workplace
2. At home
3. In education
4. In the public sphere
One major disadvantage for women is the way we are pressured to become preoccupied with society's idea of "ideal beauty."
If we do not meet the standards for ideal beauty (which are generally thin and white with small features, long hair and
perfectly unblemished skin) we often hate ourselves and our bodies. But is ideal beauty even attainable?
Only 5% of the world's women are actually built as naturally tall and thin as supermodels - and many supermodels are
starving themselves to maintain that thinness anyway. Additionally, make up and technology have allowed the ad industry
to alter images of women to fit this ideal. (See link below) So next time you are feeling like you aren't perfect,
remember, no one else is either...
Thoughts are powerful. Check out the above link for a wonderful promo that illustrates the way women
are treated unfairly at work. It's a sort of "what men are really thinking" concept.
One of the biggest indicators of how sexism is still a dangerous and thriving institution is violence against
women - particularly sexual violence which keeps women living on "A Rape Scedule." That is, we don't go out of the house
at certain times, we stay out of certain neighborhoods or bars, we wear clothes to cover our bodies and not look too sexy
and we refrain from drinking at times when we don't feel safe. The fact is, the first questions a woman or girl are
asked when she is raped or sexually assaulted are: