Childbirth
Social equality has frequently been neglected or dismissed over the years, and this oversight often needs to be addressed. One particularly controversial issue is the debate surrounding childbirth and stay-at-home privileges. Online discourse varies widely on whether a woman is inherently "meant" to bear children and continue the lineage. While we are not advocating that women should avoid childbirth or not desire children, equality lies in women having the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies without facing judgment. True equality means women can freely and comfortably express their choices without discomforting or surprising others.
Equality in literal matters is as important as handling internal biases. Women should have the right to voice their thoughts without facing criticism based on gender. Many women today choose not to have children and instead focus on their careers or maintain their beauty and body shape. This choice is justifiable as it is a personal decision, and individuals should not be limited or restricted in any way. Despite this, some men dare to say, "A grandma would not be thinking about her beauty and wealth while surrounded by her large family," without realizing that not everyone will create a large family. First of all, nobody has the right to tell a woman what to do, and secondly, if a woman did not prioritize her family, she wouldn't even be surrounded by one. People often act like they are always right and try to change women's thoughts by saying, "You should stop thinking only about wealth and beauty because years later you won't even care," but no one talks about how it is in her life. Achieving social justice and equality means breaking free from beliefs like this where a "right life" is put on a woman.
Effect on adolescents
Often, gender disparities start small. They can start as early as a girl’s childhood. As they grow, girls are more likely to be exposed to discriminatory practices physically and mentally.
Many consider it is deeply concerning that adolescent girls are one of the most likely to experience sexual assault than any other minority. A majority of SA cases involve girls under the age of 18. Girls from the age of 9-13 face drastic decline in confidence and mental health, making them a huge target for predators. Nationally, 8% or 10 million girls under the age of 18 have experienced rape or attempted rape compared to 0.7% or 791,000 boys. Both girls and boys are vulnerable to sexual violence, however, the statistics demonstrate how gender inequality leads to the prevalence and types of sexual violence faced towards girls. Research shows that girl youths are more likely to be victimized by a peer or someone they know. This highlights the vulnerability of this group, and how others take advantage of them based on their age and gender.
From a young age, girls are also exposed to the societal standards for a woman. Within just the age range of 5-6, nearly ⅓ of children in the US idealize a body size that is thinner than their current perceived size. By the age of 7 ¼ has engaged in a form of dieting behavior. From their developing brains, they are inclined to be influenced by social media and those around them. Children are now exposed to a toxic standard at earlier ages with rapid digitalization.
Adolescents are at a high risk of being exposed to sexual violence and unrealistic standards. NSVRC states that “There are many gaps in research on sexual violence against teens, especially those from marginalized, unserved, and underserved communities.” There must be more action taken to protect this vulnerable group and an increase in effort to close this gap in gender imbalance.