There are so many differences between men and women, where do I even begin? Well, let’s see, on average, men have larger builds than women. Their brains are usually ten percent bigger. Physically, they tend to be much stronger than their female counterparts and more dominant socially. How so? In the sports arena, which event would receive more ratings: a replay of Kobe Bryant’s slam dunk or the former WNBA star Lisa Leslie’s? I’ll go with Kobe.
What about occupations? When you go to the emergency room, what gender is the doctor most likely to be? Or your dentist? I know out of the seven courses I took last semester, only one of my professors was a female. That may be due to the fact that most are hard at work in our overcrowded elementary and middle schools. Just a thought.
The disparity between men and women is nothing unheard of. According to the General Accountability Office, for the last two decades women have earned 80 cents for every dollar men have earned. Child bearing makes no difference because men with children earn two percent more than men without children. You’re thinking women who have kids should be receiving much more than that right? Wrong. A woman who has children makes 2.5 percent less than a woman who does not. See what a difference that 20 cents makes?
So with men leading the statistics in most areas, what can we say about the opposite sex? I know the late James Brown said this is a man’s world, but surely his lyrics aren’t facts, right? Well I sure don’t think so.
It is time we recognize the women throughout the world today. Yes, physically men may be stronger, but what about a woman’s strength? The strength that pushes the single mother to work three jobs to make a home for her family; the strength that helps her cope with a miscarriage; the strength that allows her to fight the vicious battle of breast cancer. There is nothing that can quite compare to the strength of a woman.
Women have provided an example of what it means to be strong and resilient since the beginning of time. We are mothers, wives, sisters, and aunts. We can be a lawyer by day defending for our rights in the workplace and a doctor by night caring for our sick children. In need of a fighter? We’ve got that because we’ve fought for respect and equality for many years. An educator? We can teach you a thing or two about endurance and pain. Women are the most common victims of violence with 5.3 million being abused each year. If we don’t know what it means to persevere through all obstacles, I don’t know who does.
This is not an attempt to bash all males or make anyone feel inferior. My purpose is simple: to give credit where it is due. So many women do not receive the proper recognition; so many are hidden in the shadows of a man’s success. Today I wanted to make a change. To all the women out there, for every role you play, for any adversity you overcome, I applaud you. Your standing ovation is way overdue.
Shala Marks is a summer intern with EmpowHER. She dedicates this article to every strong woman, especially her mother.