We all try....

Good Morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening?

So basically i wrote this speech for my English speaking exam however my teacher decided to sheg me and told me I couldn't do it about gender equality because it's too much of an 'academic topic' for me ;( what ever that means.      ( It's all good though because I spoke about capoeira instead). 

Back to my point I think this speech is too good to waste so I want to share it with who ever wants to read. 

Gender Equality

When it comes to equality the world is out of balance. In many parts of the world especially in lower economic developed countries many girls are deprived of basic opportunities and resources that we take for granted such as education, health care, owning properties, the right to maintain a job and political inclusion just to name a few.

Girls face many obstacles which prevent them to take part in education some reasons for this are early and forced marriages, early pregnancy, stereotypes at home and in the community not to mention the fear of violence on the way to school. What people don't realise is that equality means less poverty, hunger and diseases in the world. In addition many traditions/practices which are most prevalent in Africa and Southern Aisa believe in keeping females secluded and well-covered by clothing from all men except those related by blood.

What if more girls attended school?

The immediate effects would be having a job outside of agriculture, increasing their wealth and establishing themselves as women. Also if more girls attended school in developing countries it is likely that many could marry later on in their lives and have fewer children reducing the birth rate of their country which is crucial for development. Employed women therefor can afford for their children's education and medical care when their children are born, factors which all contribute to breaking the poverty cycle. Girls should go to school for education and reasons of being social interaction and the ability to asses social situations. Education offered girls the fundermental basis of social behaviour and allows them to explore new areas they will not get to if they do not go to school.

But believe it or not, these examples that I have stated are not the only form of descrimination females are subject to. Yes even now in 'developed countries' many women and girls including myself experience first had narrow-mindedness and bigotry. Unbelievably the discrimination and prejudice I have sometimes received have repeatedly come from those of the same gender as me as well as the opposite gender. "Roll down your skirt" or "put on some more clothes" are just a handful of subliminal messages that society intalls into girls minds that in order for them not to be sexualised by men they must alter their own attire. Why is it that is girls have to adjust to what is seen 'appropriate' by society, simply because 'boys can't help it'? Why can't we teach our boys that just because a girl is baring skin that it's not a ticket for raping her? As long as events like this continue to take place we can not live in a fair and equal world when it comes to genders.

Gender is a battlefield but the casualties aren't always who you'd expect. Nowadays in our wester society men are stigmatised and often discriminated against in serious and often unexpected ways. How often have we heard the term "real men don't cry"? We expect men to be toughth and hide their emotions. Everybody has emotions. So why should it be deemed as unacceptable for men to show their soft spot? Countless cartoons and sitcoms such as the Simpsons portray the farther figure to posses childlike characteristics and are depicted as lacking intelligence. But he can fix things and he brings home a pay-check because that's what's only expected ...... Right? These are just a handful of examples of how the male gender is also sometimes affected.

Equality of the genders refers to the view that men and women should receive equal treatment and should not be discriminated against based on gender.

 I say raise boys and girls the day way!

-Ige, the poet :)