Heterosexism and Rights
Heterosexism clearly influenced the distinctions between man and woman. This discrimination prohibited any fair ideas about equal rights for men and women. Heterosexism prejudice was in favor of men in power. Often time this bias ideology affected most people without them even aware of what has happened. For instance, my mother always advised me to wear a skirt, close your legs and wear nail polish. Universally most people beliefs were developed from religion, culture and tradition. Unfortunately, many traditional practices were set up to benefit men. Heterosexism has influenced the conditions within society. Many people find it very difficult to remove themselves from lifestyles they are so deeply ingrained. As stated by V. Spike Peterson and Laura Parisi, ” What has not been generally recognized [was] the bias that often underlies studies of both sex roles male dominance-an assumption that we know what ‘men’ and ‘women’ are, an assumption that male and female are predominantly natural objects rather than predominantly cultural constructions (pg.133). In my view, heterosexism has been intricately entangled within our lives. This integration makes it difficult to remove ourselves from situations. For example, some women may be in a verbally abusive marriage yet culturally she may be influenced not to leave the situation.
This idea about gender equality forces one to question the influence of culture, religion and tradition. Most people want to retain their deeply root ideas yet they understand male and female are natural objects rather than predominantly cultural constructs. As stated above. We are appeared to be tied to the unfair attitudes that religion, culture and tradition has established. Still today, we have the same problems with gender inequality. As stated in the New York Times, ” to be a woman in the United States is to feel unequal, despite great strides in gender equality, according to a wide-ranging poll about gender in postelection America released Tuesday. It’s catcalls on the street, disrespect at work and unbalanced responsibilities at home. For girls, it’s being taught, more than boys, to aspire to marriage, and for women, its watching positions of power go to men”. We closely examine how the same behaviors towards woman affects the decision we make.
Multiple factors have impacted distinct attitudes toward women. In the same way, gender difference was based on stereotypes human rights was influenced by the same set of conditions. Women were not acknowledged. Both gender inequality and human rights displayed how women were not equally accepted. Not only was heterosexism oppressive but human rights was oppressive too. Theories developed to devalue women occurred within two separate in distinct circumstances. Firstly, gender inequality existence at the same time human rights was not woman’s rights. As stated, ” we explored how [different] categories were made in historical time, and how that making normalized gendered identities and heterosexist practices that underpin existing human rights. In other words, discriminatory practices were integrated into the human rights scene. Presently we have one injustice after another injustice. For example, the Presidential election would have taken a turn around the corner. Had the single most qualified candidate been a man.
