Steemit Engagement Challenge S3-W4: The Role of the Various Genders by @jasn1

Hello my friends, I would like to join this challenge and talk on The Role of the Various Genders. This topic is rather important and sensitive but I would love to jump on this and give me opinion on the diversity of this topic.

Gender equality can be described as the equality of both sexes (male and female). This means that both sexes are actively in involved in whatever and everything. No form of discrimination between the two genders. For example, if a man can work in a bank then a woman can do the same. If a man fights wrestling, then a woman should be able to. In my country (Nigeria), you hardly see women do some certain jobs like driving a taxi, you also hardly see a man selling in the market. They term it a “gender job”.

Yes it does, right from childhood it is eminent to note that boys don’t do some certain things like cook and clean, culture believes it’s the duty of a lady to do those kind of work and hence the boys are fashioned into something different, like going hunting or going to the farm (for those in rural areas). African culture shows that it is a man’s job to do the hard work and provide for the woman while she stays home, take care of the kids and the home.

But in recent times, things have changed. We see women who are breadwinners of their families, we have seen women who go all out to provide and take care of themselves and their families. You see women working multiple jobs to sustain and support the family.

Even tho sometimes there is a form of discrimination, for example some jobs would say the requirements are “men only” while some would say “women only”. Some women get jobs not because they qualified but because of what they stand to offer to their prospective boss (which is not suppose to be so). Gender plays a large role in our everyday life, when I was a final year student, any time I wanted to meet my project supervisor, I would ask one of the lady who was also under him as a project student to accompany me to his office because I know once he sees a woman, he would give us a listening ear. This also made her serious with her project work.

In my country Nigeria, as I said earlier the man as the head of the family is required to be a provider and take care of the family by providing while the woman is the care giver, the culture and norm demands that she stays home and take care of the home and kids. This cultural norm automatically places a woman beneath the man (which is not right). Since the man is the sole provider, it is believed that a woman does not have a say in what happens in the house, the man can do what he wants, say what he wants and acts like he wants. If there is gender equality, there would be some form of respect between the husband and wife because each of them are actively contributing to the development and growth of the household.

Well for most African countries, I would say almost all have similar differences in gender roles and responsibilities, compared to western countries. In most African countries, it can be seen as a man ruling over a woman whereas in the western countries you would see some form of equality. For example, until recently, women were not allowed to drive within Saudi Arabia. That is pure gender discrimination.

In Steemit, I am new here but I have seen a lot of gender equality. Women and men working together as community leaders and curators. It’s just awesome being part of this family. If we could learn from the unity on this platform and relate it to your daily life and country then the world would be a better place and gender equality would be encouraged.

I would like to add that every gender has a significant role and responsibility, there is a popular saying which goes “whatever a man can do, a woman can do better”. This saying is slowly becoming a reality in the world we live in. When I was in high school, ladies were topping the class, usually it’s a boy’s thing to be the smartest in class but women are fast changing things. They also do very well in leadership positions. So I believe gender equality should be encouraged.

I am inviting @el-nailul @klen.civil and @moer to join in this contest.