Gender Unfairness

Gender is kind of a funny thing. Males seem to reap many benefits because of their gender. We even see examples of this in the school system with boys usually receiving more funding in their athletic programs. However, it seems that females have more of an advantage when it comes to the emotional side. Boys, from the moment they begin to speak are taught that they have to “be a man.” In order to be a man, boys are discouraged from showing emotion. They are discouraged from being too “sensitive.” Boys are even sometimes scolded when playing with certain toys like dolls. Young boys are told that these qualities are feminine qualities. However, if a girl wants to play with a stereotypical boy toy like an action figure, it is more socially acceptable. I believe this is one of the oddest aspects of gender.
Society places a double standard on what is okay for both sexes. Woman can take on a masculine role and still be considered a woman. However, if a man takes on what is believed to be feminine traits, he becomes less of a man. I have three very good friends that fit this mold. One of my very good female friends is what you would call more of a tomboy. She plays sports, does not do well showing emotion, and has other stereotypical male qualities. Instead of watching “chick flicks,” she would rather be playing video games. Not only is she socially acceptable, to many guys, her qualities are attractive. The other two friends are both boys. They have what some would call feminine qualities when it comes to their personalities. Neither are afraid to show their emotions. If one makes a bad grade on a test he will sometimes cry. If one is afraid of something, they will share it or even scream if the situation calls for it. One of them even watches typical girl shows like “The Desperate Housewives.” As you can probably guess, many think that they are gay when first introduced but neither are.
In another class, we discussed the differences between homosexuality and heterosexuality. The question was asked “if a girl kisses another girl while on spring break, is that girl homosexual?” The majority of the class said no. She is just a girl having fun. However, the same question was given but with a boy kissing another boy on spring break. The majority of the class thought that the boy would be considered homosexual. This double standard is not fair for males. They are constantly trying to prove themselves as manly and are limited to the actions and reactions they can perform without being considered less then a man. However, women are not limited. They can be stern or sensitive without being made into something they are not. Overall the differences in gender are not fair.