Gender Bias in America

Sitting with my teenage daughter and watching TV one evening I was appalled at what I saw transpire on the screen. In a popular prime-time drama geared toward teens, a high-school girl, married because of an unintended pregnancy, was crying to her adult friend that she was unsure she would be able to handle having a baby, going to school, and working to try to pay their bills so her husband could continue his education on a scholarship. This friend gave the child this advice: "I know it's hard," she said smiling, "but you have to have faith."

There is a popular song on the radio that falls right in line with this ideal called Listen to Your Heart. In this song, no matter what the circumstances of life or relationship ("I don't know where you're going, and I don't know why") the singer emphatically advises "listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye."

There are many other instances of this message in the media, from songs to movies to video games to commercials. Women and girls are shown over and over again that making important life decisions based on emotions instead of sound reason is normal and preferable for our gender. But the bias does not end there. It also reaches into the realm of personal and commercial success.

When a man is ambitious for wealth or power, people look at that man and see motivation, ingenuity, and skill. The opinion is generally one of favor and admiration. However, when a woman is ambitious for these same things she is seen as cold, calculating, and manipulative. The word "bitch" is used freely.

If a man makes decisions based on what his wife or girlfriend chooses for herself, he is seen by society as effeminate or "whipped". When a woman makes decisions based on a male partner's choices, she is rewarded with adjectives such as "loyal" and "devoted". Women are the partners whom society expects to give up education or position in order to have a family. Few men would even consider this idea for themselves.