It’s a man’s world and still an unfair one:

It’s a man’s world. Being a male I too am indirectly a contributor to that unfairness as I have not stood up actively for gender fairness. 50% of the population is still unfairly treated or exploited regardless of their contribution, sacrifice, hard work, etc. without due recognition. My mother had slaved away her life for the family in another world at another time. She had no say. Nobody recognized her sacrifice. Women continue to sacrifice. Woman conceives babies (yes, generally out of love and a sex act) in a moment of love between a man and a woman. That’s where it just about ends. After that it’s the woman that carries that precious baby in her womb for long 40 weeks. She suffers pain, sleepless nights, significant bodily change, emotional change, hormonal change. The baby grows inside the security of the womb sucking life sustaining nutrients. The woman bears through the long ordeal because of an unexplainable love in anticipation of the newborn. One day the woman delivers the baby through excruciating pain. She survives, but her job isn’t over. The father still cannot nourish. It is the mother again who has to nourish the baby with her own milk. Yet the newborn now becomes the flag bearer of the father carrying his last name. The baby has no choice in selecting the name. It’s the male world that determines whose family name it will carry. The baby has no choice as to what religion he or she wants to choose. The religion is again given by the patriarchal world. Baptism, circumcision – they have no choice. The mother is forgotten just about. She faces hurdles all the way. She can aspire to be the president, the best surgeon, and so on. Her gender, her ability to carry a baby, maternity leave gets in the way in a man’s world. I believe if Hillary Clinton was a male, she would have had a better chance at being the president. Obama made history (and perhaps it was overdue) – with the word of hope and change. An idealistic younger generation got carried away emotionally and voted for ideals ignoring experience. Others were afraid to be labeled as racist. Hillary could have made history too (which is way overdue). But that 50% will have to wait for a female President just because of their gender. I have two daughters. They have the best education. Their offspring will not carry their names in a man’s world. I cannot change the world, and I want them to stand tall in a man’s world. I want the world to seriously think about the age-old unfairness to women and do something about it. I want to see true gender equality. Perhaps it won’t happen in my life time.