Over the last century, American’s have made great strides toward equality among men and women; however, we are still deeply embedded with sexual stereotypes and prejudices about gender roles in our society. These sexual stereotypes are especially prevalent in the workplace. Women in the same profession earn less money than men, and men predominately hold the top positions in companies (i.e. CEO, President, and Vice President). Women are often discriminated against in the workplace when they have a child, while men are rewarded when a child is born.
In 2005, Evelyn Murphy and E.J. Graff wrote an article called The Wage Gap which explored the dramatic difference in pay between a man and woman in the same profession. In 2005 a full time working woman would only earn seventy seven cents to a man’s dollar. Over her lifetime, a woman will suffer a huge economic loss solely based on her gender. In the study by Murphy and Graff, averages were taken from the official Labor Department census based only on full time worker’s wages. Their study shows that a female high school graduate will earn $700,000 less than a man during her lifetime, a college graduate $1.2 million, and a professional school graduate $2 million dollars. It is presumed that around April 24th of each year female worker’s earnings will finally catch up with men’s earnings for all of the previous year, this date has been named Equal Pay day!
Social scientists have also documented a “mommy penalty” and a “daddy bonus” after a child is born. Men’s wages go up and women’s wages go down just because a child is born. When a baby is born, a man is often given a bonus with the attitude that his family will need it because they just had a baby. However, a woman who just had a baby may be demoted or denied a promotion, because the employer often feels the new mother’s performance will decrease.
Women are perceived as having become more assertive, independent, and competitive over the years. Many women have fought for equal rights over the years and won the right for women to vote, own property, and work among many others. Nonetheless, inequality still exists among men and women today. Some people argue that men and women are created differently and in essence could never be completely equal. Other people suggest that women choose to “take a backseat” to men in order to reap the benefits of being treated like a lady. As the debate heats up, many men and women feel that some women take advantage of the situation and want to be treated equally only when it is convenient for them!
Many men are rightfully outraged at women who demand equal rights and special treatment. As discussed in an article written by Paul Anderson, a 38 year old Scottish libertarian, men are becoming increasingly confused about how women expect to be treated (Anderson). In his article, Anderson complains that women expect the right to vote but they also expect a man to give up his seat for a woman on a crowded train. He points out that white men are in a lose lose situation, because if a man does not offer his seat to a lady he is being ungentlemanly like but women are offended that they are not treated equally. There are numerous responses to Anderson’s posting from both men and women who share very interesting views about this dilemma. It all comes down to the age old question, “What do women really want?”
Most women will agree that they do not want to be talked to like a man, hit like a man, or treated like a man in any social scene. It is obvious that women cannot compete with men in sports, due to physiological differences. Men and women are not equally equipped and not created equally. Statistically speaking, women have a different set of priorities for their lives than men. Women tend to be less obsessed with their jobs, because their values revolve around other things like family, friends, and relationships. Statistics do show that women are paid less than men; statistics also show that most women choose to be treated unequally to men and to receive less pay.
More than 90 per cent of those polled for CosmoGirl magazine’s November 2003 issue believe that it is the man’s role to provide the household’s money, with 85 per cent maintaining they would rather rely on their partner for financial support than be a successful, independent woman. Their grandmothers fought for the right to vote, their mothers battled to have it all, but the upcoming generations of girls have decided to turn the clock back and just want to stay at home with their babies. According to a survey of 5,000-plus teenage girls, their main ambition is to complete university then return to the homestead – whether their partners like it or not. More than nine out of 10 of the girls believe it should be up to their husbands to provide for them.” One in four girls say marriage is their number one priority in life.
The previous two generations of women fought fearlessly to gain women’s rights. Their struggles were successful and did not go unnoticed. That said, women today realize that although the worth of men and women are the same, they can never be equal – nor do they wish to be. Most women are programmed to be caretakers – loving and understanding. As we know, women find pleasure, happiness, and fulfillment from different things than men. Most women are satisfied working under a man and earning less money than men, if that means they can utilize their people skills. Women also utilize their traits to excel in all aspects and their raise their daughters to do the same. Take for example how many mothers dress their 9-12 year old daughters in sexy costumes for Halloween. Little girls are taught very young how to use their assets. Even children’s costumes today emphasize the physical body.
Women are beginning to realize that complete equality can only be reached at the cost of the gender benefits that come from being female. Most women value a gentleman who will open the door for her and pull out her chair. Generally women are satisfied being a helpmate to a man; with the understanding that they are capable and intelligent beings, women are content with the gender roles that come with being a female.
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Nowadays there are feminine men and masculine females. For these people there should be equal opportunities to excel in life; however, it is important that women do not take advantage of the argument they are not equal to men. Most women want their son’s to become men, and they are outraged by the discrimination against white men today.
Ok, so everyone knows that Halloween is really considered, for all practical purposes, a “child’s” holiday. Children love Halloween! It’s second in popularity only to Christmas. Which if you think of all the other holiday’s during the year, that’s pretty impressive. So for the sake of parenting (and the writing of this article) we’ll happily give Halloween night to the kids. But the weekends before and after, now those are for the “big” kids! 
Being part of the newer generation, I am very fascinated with Marilyn Monroe, and her life story. She was beautiful, classy and had the sexy appeal that would drive anyone crazy. For Halloween this past year, I dressed as Marilyn Monroe in her classic dress as worn in the movie the seven year itch. I knew that I could never live up to her name, especially in one night. I gave it a run for the money anyway. I went as far as dying my dark brown hair blond, and taking on the whole act itself. I changed the young woman I knew, into a whole new character. 
