Are There Any Differences Between Men and Women that Justify Inequality?

[Baladas]

No, there is nothing that justifies inequality.
There is no good reason for women to be paid less, or respected less.
I think that women deserve equal chances to men at qualifying for leadership on all fronts.

 

[JerryL]

No, there is nothing that justifies inequality.
There is no good reason for women to be paid less, or respected less.
I think that women deserve equal chances to men at qualifying for leadership on all fronts.

There's no good reason for men to get into and graduate from college less, nor get less credulity from courts.

 

[Midnight Rain]

Yes, females get pregnant so they deserve paid time off.

Men should also get time off for paternal leave. Many countries have this as well. Sadly the US does not and it shows a society that thinks of women as caretakers of children rather than both parents.

 

[Bunyip]

Men should also get time off for paternal leave. Many countries have this as well. Sadly the US does not and it shows a society that thinks of women as caretakers of children rather than both parents.

As a man who raised a child alone from birth, thanks.

 

[Midnight Rain]

As a man who raised a child alone from birth, thanks.

You're welcome! People forget dads are just as important as moms and just as capable of raising children. Actually interesting study (to bring up a slight difference between men and women) is that the chemical processes in the brain that help physically change the brain connections into that of a parent happens during the women's pregnancy so she already has her maternal instinct clicked on when the child is born. A man actually has the same switch but is done so by spending time with the child. The argument could be made that Paternal leave is more dire for the emotional bond for the father than the mother. But I still support equal paid leave

 

[The Sum of Awe]

The difference is that one makes good sammiches and the other attempts to make cereal

 

[freethinker44]

Males. Higher testosterone levels. Higher risk for catastrophic auto accidents and riskier recreational activity overall, at least according to insurance risk assessments.

Are we sure this behavior is primarily caused by nature and not nurture, though? I feel like girls are raised to be more restrained than boys. Bad or risky behavior is tolerated more for boys than it is for girls, you know, boys will be boys but it's not ladylike for girls.

 

[Baladas]

There's no good reason for men to get into and graduate from college less, nor get less credulity from courts.

Agreed. The point being that promoting gender inequality is foolish, pointless and unfair.

 

[Laika]

Are there any inheritable differences between men and women that would justify social, political, or economic inequality between them? If so, what are those differences and how do you know they are innate?

Men and women are different and therefore, in the common usage of term equality to mean the 'same', are unequal. But to translate biological differences into social differences is partly down to private property in which women are assumed to take individual responsibility for children (and are hence penalized for having children in terms of careers and suffer disadvantages compared to men) and secondly down to the division of labor in the family in which women are expected to take on the domestic role and the man is the bread winner. The way our society thinks is that differences in gender roles are considered to be 'natural' or innate and are rationalized as the product of biology, genetics or evolutionary differences, etc rather than socioeconomic organization.
If we accept that children are to some extent the common responsibility of the human race and not simply women alone, the burden falls on both genders through some kind of universal access to childcare- I think that's pretty close to equality. So no, there is nothing that justifies social inequality, but the practicalities of equality are still yet to be realized by free childcare which would free women from the responsibilities which are presumed to be there's, rather than simply insist on equal rights alone.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Nope, but I think genders are naturally different which kinda puts things in some places.

I think women should get more privileges; better insurance, more allowances to the basic salary and more (emergency) vacations are what I always have in mind in this. I'm not saying this to belittle them, but because I feel normally they deserve it.

I could be wrong tho. I think I'm having the above thought because I believe this life has always been sexist and it still is.

 

[Ingledsva]

This seems to fall under the same cover as disabilities. That is to say: sometimes yes (quadriplegics cannot sign up for Navy seals); sometimes no (we require ramps to allow wheel-chair access).

Which is unequal? Everyone to a single set of rules which some groups will meet more evenly than others; or different rules for different people? Both have issues. For example...


So should insurance companies be legally barred from charging men higher insurance rates than women?

And again, which one is equal? Do we need to have a single "per person" rate regardless of everything, or can we vary based on things... like your personal record, the car you drive, your age, your gender?

I agree. We should, and do, proscribe by law gender as a factor in employment... at least directly.

Indirectly: I want the fireman coming in to rescue me to be strong enough to work their equipment... strong enough to carry me from a burning building. I don't care what their gender is; but I realize that this requirement might weed out a greater percentage of women than men... much like the SEALS cannot take a quadriplegic.


I'm good with it. How about I take it a step farther...

OTHER PEOPLE respond differently to men and women. Women are, generally, seen as less threatening, more nurturing, and there's a greater desire to work with rather than against a women. In short: women are better teachers, psychologists, hostage negotiators, councilers, customer-service personnel, etc... not necessarily because of themselves (though there's a case to be made there); but because of how society views them.

The first rule of equality is, to me, that all people have equal value as people. They need to be given equal opportunity, and equal treatment under the law. When reasonable, accommodation needs to be made to *create* equality where nature has not provided it... such as hiring men despite their higher propensity to go on a workplace shooting rampage; though where that is unreasonable it cannot be done.

It's a balance between equal rules (hey: the law that prevents sleeping on the sidewalk is applied equally to millionaires and homeless people), and equal outcomes. Like most things: Either extreme is a failure.

Why do we always get the firemen type baloney in this conversation?

The fire department here is half women, and the Chief is a woman. We haven't lost any people because of this. We also have female police, Forestry Officers, lumberjacks. My sister was a millwright. Every time this debate comes up - strength - is always put forward as making men superior, while things women are stronger in are just ignored.

As has already been explained above, - men and women have differences. Those differences don't make them superior, or inferior.

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[Ingledsva]

There's no good reason for men to get into and graduate from college less, nor get less credulity from courts.

Up to the 80's more men went to, and graduated, from college. So what is your beef?

Whom should have the kids, has gone back and forth over the years.

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[Ingledsva]

Nope, but I think genders are naturally different which kinda puts things in some places.

I think women should get more privileges; better insurance, more allowances to the basic salary and more (emergency) vacations are what I always have in mind in this. I'm not saying this to belittle them, but because I feel normally they deserve it.

I could be wrong tho. I think I'm having the above thought because I believe this life has always been sexist and it still is.

Emergency vacations? More allowances to the basic salary?

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[Smart_Guy]

Emergency vacations? More allowances to the basic salary?
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Yes, because of the special time of the month, pregnancy, delivery and its effects, and the healthy breast feeding for the baby and taking care of it. Those must be respected and considered in a women. I think a job should not stand on the way of those and a man cannot do those.

Um, am I being offensive? I'm really sorry, I don't mean it!

 

[Lyndon]

Equality, hogwash, on average at least women are definitely superior IMHO

 

[Revoltingest]

I favor letting necessary qualifications for a job be the discriminating entity. If either gender can do the job in a field traditionally dominated by the other, then let'm do it.
But practical concerns might warrant gender discrimination in special cases. One I can think of is elite combat units. Even if a woman were to gain entry to the Seal training & qualification system, the probability of success would be even lower than for males (most of whom fail). The cost of this, & problems of eventual integration into the team appear to make outright gender discrimination worthwhile.

As for other areas, notable exceptions arise regularly.
‘Genetically male’ woman gives birth to twins - The Times of India
Is she a man or woman? I see this question as irrelevant. It should be about what the individual needs & can perform. But then it becomes significant in segregated sports competition, eg, Olympics.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

Why do we always get the firemen type baloney in this conversation?

The fire department here is half women, and the Chief is a woman. We haven't lost any people because of this. We also have female police, Forestry Officers, lumberjacks. My sister was a millwright. Every time this debate comes up - strength - is always put forward as making men superior, while things women are stronger in are just ignored.

As has already been explained above, - men and women have differences. Those differences don't make them superior, or inferior.

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I think it's cute that the fireman/combat position is brought up every time, too, regarding biological differences between genders to explain why men can and women can't.

Watch who brings up the positions where men are expected to be better suited for jobs. Naturally. Because muscle mass.

LOL

That's why I brought up the testosterone argument as a limitation possibility for men. Hey, think about how lower testosterone places women in a favorable position for being in the war room, who can think more clearly and plan more accordingly with greater restraint of available resources with our testosterone-fueled navy seals and firefighters. Really, women are better suited to be in charge, naturally, because of more estrogen, less testosterone, and the ability to think more rationally through these situations.



Again, all in good fun, fellas.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I think it's cute that the fireman/combat position is brought up every time, too, regarding biological differences between genders to explain why men can and women can't.

Watch who brings up the positions where men are expected to be better suited for jobs. Naturally. Because muscle mass.

LOL

That's why I brought up the testosterone argument as a limitation possibility for men. Hey, think about how lower testosterone places women in a favorable position for being in the war room, who can think more clearly and plan more accordingly with greater restraint of available resources with our testosterone-fueled navy seals and firefighters. Really, women are better suited to be in charge, naturally, because of more estrogen, less testosterone, and the ability to think more rationally through these situations.



Again, all in good fun, fellas.

I... I think I'm in love

 

[Revoltingest]

Wars should only be declared by old men or women. The former can't even remember what testosterone fueled aggression felt like, & the latter won't be on their schtinkies ready to kill everything in sight once a month. You can't trust anyone under 60.

 

[Smart_Guy]

Wars should only be declared by old men or women. The former can't even remember what testosterone fueled aggression felt like, & the latter won't be on their schtinkies ready to kill everything in sight once a month. You can't trust anyone under 60.

Got it!

We can't trust anyone younger than 61 and not from Revoltistan!

*taking notes*