Hey!!
Yesterday the world celebrated the International woman's day, in order to commemorate the day in which some female workers' lives were sacrificed in Chicago as they were asking for their rights.
Lots of homage to this gender was carried out around the world. And lots of memories about the role of both men and women were recalled.

While listening to and reading about it, I wondered what your opinions are about how hard it is to be a man or a woman, and what are the benefits of being a man or a woman, in a civilization where these roles are clearly differentiated.

Would you like to share your thoughts?

A happy day for everyone!

Nice Topic but I think it is not easy to say it is harder to be a men or a woman. In the most countries woman's have to fight for equality. I think this is not very easy but I know that men have other things who are not easy.
I'm very curious about the answers here in the topic. So I wish you all a nice weekend.

Hi, Nicole!

I agree, my dear: it's impossible to say it's better or worse to be a man or a woman, because both genders have their own challenges, and every context has their own circumstances for men and women.

In the country where I live, being a man is hard. This is a still somehow conservative country, so men are the ones who still are the main responsible for bringing the bacon home. While the role for women has also changed, the latest statistics claim that it's men who work for their families.

In relation to women, I can say Colombia is a very male chauvinist country. There is still a very general stereotype on women, even though their participation in different fields such as politics and the academy has risen significantly. Yet, there is a lot of prejudice, and violence and abuse against women is growing dramatically. Also, even some female bosses have preference towards men than women to assign roles! There's been a transition in my country, but there are many years to come before we can see equity.

I a more general way, I think one of the hardest things of being a woman is to be a mother. I'm not a mother myself, but someone who becomes a mother has a huge responsibility on her shoulders, and her whole life is transformed. You stop having a life for yourself, but you have to commit your life to your child, sometimes even for the rest of your life!

I can't agree more with Anita. Here in Colombia there's a lot of inequality towards women. Web can see it in the number of women empolyed by enterprise or the they earn.

Also in the family, some father leave the growing of the children exclusively to women while it should be a duty of both.

PS. Anita I've sent you a tweet.

As you're the most active male participant in the forum, we'd like to know what's in your opinion the hardest part of being a man.

I think women have to take care of their appearance a lot more than men. Men can have a beer belly or even be bald (although some men suffer from complex as they're bald), and we'll love them anyway. We don't focus so much on appearance.
But women do suffer as we've got to make a good impression on both men and women. I think society is harsher for women in terms of physical appearance. Do you agree?

It's for real and I hope women don't take it bad.

One of the most challenges of men is to understand women But, as you say we love each other (men and women).

Another thing is, nowadays women who are so beautiful sometimes gets a promotion in their job easier or some benefits that men would have to work hard to get.

Nevertheless, I think things are becoming more equal and fair day by day.

Misor wrote:One of the most challenges of men is to understand women

So true! I think it's hard for women to understand each other!

Misor wrote:Another thing is, nowadays women who are so beautiful sometimes gets a promotion in their job easier or some benefits that men would have to work hard to get.

So true! Sometimes there's preference toward women, mainly when they're good-looking. Sometimes bosses are too malleable that they are led by appearance than effectiveness. And usually these beautiful women who are promoted just because can be really mean!

So I agree with you, Jose... Sadly it does happen.

Do you think men are skilled at things women can difficultly do and things that women can do better than men?

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I agree! In communities where there's a lower life quality standard the tendency is a male chauvinist one, focused on the man's role. It wouldn't be any problem if women didn't have to struggle for their own rights, but we see the situation is tough for many of them. A very traditional point of view results in lack of equity. The same happens in Colombia, I've got to say.

Has the situation changed somehow now that your country leader is a woman, Somu?
Is that the case of Germany, too, where the Prime Minister is a woman, as well?

Wow! What a situation!
And while some changes are beneficial, it's true I've heard being a woman in India isn't easy at all. I can't remember if we talked about the abortion rates in countries like India and China when it's a baby girl, and all the discrimination that sometimes women and widows have to suffer if living in a low-class society and, now I can tell from your comment, in lower mid-class societies.

Even though media and globalisation has changed this concept, I'm afraid the message is puzzling: instead of promoting healthy equality, sometimes media (entertainment more specifically) promotes competitiveness, and women's liberty sometimes means doing whatever you want with your body, becoming a sexual slave in the end. That's what happens a lot in the western world.
In a more positive context, women do demonstrate they are able to contribute to their society's needs. That's why, as you've said, Somu, our participation has increased in different fields slightly but fruitfully. It goes without saying that mums also do a great job, through history they have demonstrated they are total stars!

Is there anything you don't like about being a man or a woman in your specific context?

I agree when you say that being a mother is a unique experience for women. However, I think it is more difficult to be a single father, because they have to face more challenges to bring their kids up. So I think single fathers are far more admirable.

I can see society continues being very male chauvinist in general, even though many things have changed. Politics and religion have a lot to do with the concept of men and women, and these aspects are the ones which do not let equality evolve the way we all need. Also, because of that, some women are manipulative, too.