“Exploring Perceptions of Gender Discrimination and Empowerment with Young Women”
October 27, 2015
During a discussion with young vibrant 16-18 year old girls, I was trying to figure out what they knew about the terms "women empowerment" , "gender discrimination" etc. Most of them were fairly active on social media raising voices for justice ,equality and the likes . As expected I got perfect answers.
"Ma'am women are equal to Men, we are powerful too, we are not the weaker sex, we need equal rights and opportunities blah blah blah the list went on very convincingly.
As the class was almost going out of control with energy and to cut the flow of uproar about women empowerment I switch to asking questions that they had to answer with a YES or NO.
"So tell me girls if my husband excepts me to make coffee all the time and will not have it otherwise is it gender discrimination?"
Chorus: Of course YES Ma'am!!! , how can your husband do that? He can also make coffee, why should u do it all the time ? Just coz u are a woman doesn't mean it's your job to make coffee. Before they could almost verbally abuse the otherwise non demanding husband of mine I move to question two.
"So tell me if I expect my husband to change the fused bulbs all the time and never attempt it myself and wait for him to rectify it , is it gender discrimination?"
Some confused expressions and then Chorus again " Of Course NO Ma'am , why should u change the bulb all the time, it's his job , he is taller than u and he can do it better, how can he except you to change and there we go again at my husband who is unaware of what would be in store if ever he steps into this class of mine