Few weeks ago I was analyzing a recorded conversation between a customer and a service advisor of a dealership for quality assurance purposes. The customer, a lady, was complaining about and wanting to change the transmission oil of her Ford Edge. Along the line of the conversation, the customer requested to talk to the mechanic who worked on her vehicle the last time it was brought to the dealership.
Normally, a customer requesting a discussion with his or her assigned technician or mechanic shouldn't be a big deal, right? Well, when the customer was patched through to the mechanic, something very dramatic happened. Immediately the customer heard the voice of the mechanic, her first remark was, "Mary Mother of God! A lady has been the one working on my car? Now I understand why the vehicle is always faulty and never feels comfortable even after spending a lot of money to fix that." That day, I felt very bad for the technician. But, she took it on the shin really well and even cracked a joke with the silly customer just to calm frail nerves.
Now, if a lady could feel uncomfortable to that a fellow lady was working at the dealership as a mechanic, that sums up our feelings toward gender equity and the possibility of equal opportunities irrespective of gender. I mean, why can't we have excellent female automobile technicians? Is their a law that says that the job role is reserved specifically for the males? Why can't we have male who are wonderful hair stylists?
Gender equity is probably at its loudest or most influential in marriage/family. I've lost count of the number of married ladies around here who had to let go of their dream jobs simply because they got married. Some men will boldly tell their wives to choose between saving their family and their career. Considering how important the idea of marriage and family is on this side, most women do choose their family. With that, their talent and intelligence goes to waste. Is the world ready for gender equity?
The idea behind gender equity is to create equal opportunities for all without being stereotyped based on gender. Thankfully it's getting in terms of education. Before, a girl child is made to believe she has no business being educated afterall she will end up getting married and becoming another man's property. This reminds me of Beyonce's opening verse in Pretty Hurts where she referenced a mother telling her pretty girl child to focus on what she wears and that what's in her head doesn't matter.
Achieving gender equity will take time but we can take it one step at a time. I have a girl child and I want her to attain the best height she can in life without being restricted based on gender. One of the ways to improve on this is constant education and awareness. It's okay to educate a girl child about her potentials. However, it mustn't stop there. The old normal is for ladies to be subservient and redundant in some aspects of life. If that will change, the male folks will need education too else they'll continue to push back and try to restore the old order.
It is going to take a long time and a lot of effort. But with persistence, the marginal gains will eventually become something significant. Gender equity will probably not be fully achieved, at least not in this century, but the narrative can be changed.
