Some people feel that equality between the genders has already been achieved while others feel there is considerable progress to be made. Discuss both views and give your own opinion

Women

say that men and

women

should be treated equally so we can attain gender equality In terms of the law,

females

are now equal to males. They can vote in elections and stand for political office. In the early twentieth century,

this

was not the case and

women

had to fight for the right to cast their vote in elections.

Furthermore

,

women

have the same rights to own property as men.

This

was

also

not the case in the past.

Nevertheless

,

females

suffer from indirect discrimination in many other ways. Statistically,

females

are still paid less on average than males.

Although

laws have been put in place to ensure equality of pay for the same job, men continue to dominate management positions while

women

are assigned administrative and support roles. Their average salary is lower

as a result

.

Furthermore

, the burden of childcare falls more heavily on the mother than the father. Many companies are reluctant to female employees in their late twenties and early thirties for fear of the

women

becoming pregnant and placing the burden of paying maternity care on the shoulders of the company.

This

is something

that is

quantifiable and very difficult to expose.

Females

have the same right to a career and to progress in that career as their male counterparts, but they are being denied

this

opportunity due to hidden discrimination at all levels in our community.

Although

the law has changed to uphold

women

’s rights, our community will remain unequal until these hidden forms of unfairness disappear, something that would require a sea change in attitudes on behalf of the general public.