It is a fallacy to think that moms of boys don’t care about gender equality. Double standards be damned. I am raising two sons, and the forefront of my parenting philosophy is to impart a steady, keen focus on gender roles and gender equality. I joke that I don’t want my sons to grow up to be jerks (actually I use a more colorful term than “jerk,” but let’s leave it at that). Since the boys were little I have been quick to point out gender inequality and the world’s blistering devaluation of women and girls. Sadly, one doesn’t have to look far. The toy aisles, clothing racks, and pretty much every history museum exhibit present myriad opportunities to make my point.
- Unequal pay
- Domestic abuse
- Title IX
- Sexual subjugation
- Religious submission
- Sexualization
- Child marriage
- Freedom to marry and divorce
- Lack of women in public office
- Few women in corporate leadership/glass ceilings
- Female genital mutilation
- Access to education
- Slut shaming
- Dress codes
- Political clout
- Land ownership
- Acid attacks
- Female infanticide and gender selection
- Sex trafficking
- The list goes on…
Gender equality has yet to reach a true state of equilibrium anywhere in the world. Sure, this global lack of equality manifests itself in different ways, some subtle and others egregious. In America women still earn less than men. It’s astounding to see women vote against their own interests in this regard. In the nineties when I worked at a global Fortune 100 company I found out I was earning significantly less than a male counterpart who had less experience. I was fuming, naturally, and marched into our boss’ office to demand an explanation. And a raise. I never got a satisfactory explanation, but I did get a raise.
It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. – Jimmy Carter
Gender equality is among the UN’s 17 global goals for sustainable development. The goals will be officially adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit, September 25-27 in New York. The United Nations aims to help rid the world of extreme poverty, provide an equal education for girls and boys, and protect our environment for generations to come. It’s lofty but attainable.
In my family, our beacon of reason, hope, and compassion is Jimmy Carter. We even named our firstborn after him. One of the richest experiences of my life has been to see Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school. He spoke of generosity, giving, humility, and equality. President Carter’s words and actions point to the need for all of us, men and women alike, to focus our energy on gender equality. He speaks of the workplace, religious institutions, and cultures that continue to denigrate women and girls across the globe. As Jimmy Carter stated in a 2013 op-ed, “The abuse of women and girls is the most pervasive and unaddressed human rights violation on earth.” Sadly this is not hyperbole. The fact is, the way women live in many parts of the world isn’t simply unfair, it’s dangerous. Just look to Malala Yousafzai to see the risk in the simple act of going to school.
The photo below is my mother and aunt’s school in Kolkata.
I’ve just returned from an extended trip to India, the place of my birth. This marked my first trip in 20 years and the first visit for my husband and sons, ages 12 and 10. Aside from visiting world heritage sites and family at the ready to pinch cheeks and coddle my kids with decadent Bengali sweets, we visited the Piyali Learning Center, a girls’ school in a village on the outskirts of Kolkata. Piyali was created in 2003 in a joint partnership between Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan and Pace Universal (shout out to my indefatigable aunt who is the current Rotary Club president!).
Visiting this oasis was among the highlights of our trip. We sat and chatted with some of the most remarkable students I have ever encountered. These girls were bright, articulate, curious, and gloriously sweet. We met a dedicated team of teachers and volunteers committed to save these girls from a life of trafficking. Not one person at the Piyali Learning Center takes her education for granted. Cliche as it might seem, getting a sound education and becoming literate is the ticket to gender equality. My younger son was so moved by his experience at the Piyali Learning Center that he asked to raise money to sponsor a child rather than get gifts for his tenth birthday. I am proud to report he raised enough to sponsor a girl for a year! He was enraged and perplexed at the concept of young girls his age being sold or married off. For a young boy the word “traffic” should conjure up cars and road trips, not the slavery of his female peers. He was saddened at the sight of girls working in brick fields as we drove from village to village. He continues to talk about the many examples of gender inequality he saw, not only on our trip to India, but back here at home, too. Hmmm, I just might be raising a feminist. If only we could take a field trip to the UN Sustainable Development Summit…
My 10-year son said it best, “Education is the biggest power in the world.”
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