So, today on my way to work, driving along, trying to get around the little electric car in front of me that governs out at 50km/hr, I notice that on the back bumper, there is a ribbon magnet. You know the type, first they were Breast Cancer Awareness, then Support our Troops, then everything down to, get this, I Love My Blood Hounds (Really? Come on, man.)
Well this one is actually from our friendly local provincial government, and it says www.respectwomen.ca. It is the purple ribbon event, in support of Violence Against Women in our province.
So....ok.... here's the thing. I'm just going to come right out and say this, and I'm sure that some people would eat me for it. Obviously, I have no problem with trying to prevent violence against women. I think that goes without saying. And I am sure that there is a lot of evidence to support the fact that the percentage of women battered by men far outweighs the opposite. But this really gives off the wrong message.
First of all, it's like the Principal coming out into the schoolyard to point a finger at the bully and tell him to play nice. It makes women appear weak and helpless, and men appear like big old meanies. No one wants to be that kid that the Principal is trying to protect, even if the right intentions are there.
The campaign says "Show him how to respect women".
How about, "Show him how to respect others".
In a world that is very focused lately on mental health awareness and bullying, wouldn't it be more productive to give the message that we are all on equal ground? That violence is not acceptable, no matter who the target is?
Instead, how about equality for all? I believe that we should be able to see past gender, see past race, see past religion, and recognize that the person sitting next to us is absolutely no better and no worst than we ourselves.
I feel that feminism segregates women further, by saying "I am different, therefore you must treat me the same". The idea is to be included, but the message is saying that I should be included simply because I am different.
Our government is stepping in with really good intentions, but getting it all wrong. For an example, which is off the topic of violence against women, but still not too far off the message sent, If I apply for a job that I am not qualified for, and there are people there who deserve it more than me, then they had damn well better get that job over me. I don't care if they are male, female or bovine, makes no difference. The best qualified person gets the job. I certainly don't want the government to step in and tell that employer, "Hang on now. You had a woman apply for this job, so she must get it because she is female." For one thing, it brings about inequality, which is exactly what is being fought against, giving us an unfair advantage to compensate for the wrongdoings in the past. For another, it can create hostility and lack of respect in the workplace, when others feel that one employee has the road paved in gold for them.
It is no longer about feminism. We have reached a point were we don't need to fight for women's rights any more, we need to continue to fight for equal rights for all. That means gender, race, age, sexual preference, religion, and the list goes on. We're all in this together, afterall. But I don't think I'll be burning my bra any time soon.
This is exactly how I feel! Every year they have a luncheon here at work for International Women's Day, and it irks me beyond belief. I have never attended because I felt that by even having the event negates all the progress we've made to become equal. Thanks for putting into words what I have always felt.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was just me who felt this way. Glad I am not alone.
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