This is different from all other debates because I want your opinon! Send your answer into Debates@audrey.net.nz , I tried to be impartial. I may do an update if I decide one way or another, depending on how long it takes. Enjoy!
Women
When most people are asked which sex has it worse, most people would assume women, because of a variety of reasons.
Number one, would probably be the biological reasons, such as menestruation, and pregnancy. This is the reason why most people would say women have it worse than men. There has been studies that prove periods/menstruations can be as painful as a heart attack.
Number two, would most likely be the social expectations, of women. For example, women are supposed to be so much more careful about how they present themselves. As seen in the Barbie movie, there are so many double sandards that are set for women, that are impossible to conform to.
“It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.
The third thing would most likely be womens rights around the world. Luckily almost worldwide there are womens voting rights, (excluding Vatican City and one other), but there are still a few countries where women can’t get an educuation, and the gender pay gap is still a huge issue worldwide.
The fourth thing would be harrassment, and honestly the stats are pretty shocking. 1/3 women have experienced sexual or physical violence in their lifetime, compaired to 1/9 of men. Around 1/4 of women in New Zealand have been sexually assulted/abused in their lifetime. Some of the first things you learn from family is self defence, and to be more wary when you are alone so that you aren’t taken advantage of or attacked. Women and girls are also constantly blamed for sexual assult/abuse/harassment, and the common mantra is that boys will be boys, but girls have to be so so careful to not ‘tempt’ boys/men. Is it fair that girls and women always have to pay for the actions of boys/men?
“It’s second nature to walk home before the sun goes down, and put your keys between your knuckles when there’s boys around, isn’t it funny how we laugh it off to hide our fear? Well there’s nothing funny here.” - Dua Lipa - Boy’s Will Boys
Men
Now I think men now days, not all men, but a lot of men and boys, face a fair amount of discrimination. I’d like to say, it feels kind of gross to me that white men or just men in general are saying they feel disadvantaged, or that they can’t say anything anymore without being crimilized, when this is the first time the general population of men have experienced this when they’ve been dishing it out for thousands of years. But I will say there is reasons why some men are saying it’s worse to be a man in this day and age.
Number one would be societies expectations of masculinity, and what I mean about that is men/boys having to hide their emotions. Throughout history, men are seen as these powerful protectors right? But what if they don’t want to be perceived like that? Why can’t men take a moment to be vaunerable? Well a lot of boys and men are told from a young age they have to be the strong ones and to never show emotion, basically “Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let it show”.
Number two kind of ties into the above point, if a boy/man is being assulted, abused, bullied, or harrassed, esspecially if it’s by a woman or girl then they are seen as at fault or it is seen as them being weak. Be a man, stand up for yourself, is the mantra, but you’re also told you can’t hit girls. Even in a self defence situation between a women and a man, where a man is defending himself, most people will automatically assume the man is at fault.
Number three would be the creep factor, and constantly seen as a threat, esspecially if your a man of colour. This is a bit hard to explain but it seems that in this day and age, women/girls automatically assume the worst of men/boys, which let’s be honest is drilled into you from personal experience, and society. Men have to be just as hyper aware of how their actions could come off to women as women have to be towards men, but for different reasons. If they have no intention of anything shady, then they have to constantly work to make sure nothing in their body language or actions can be perceived as creepy.
“A man does not die of love or his liver or even of old age; he dies of being a man”
Okay now reading all this, I have a solution. Never assume anything of anyone, don’t tell people what to do, stop victim the shaming of both sexes, don’t impose double standards onto anyone, don’t be quick to judge, and be nice because you never know what people are going through. But that’s not going to happen, because people suck, being a human sucks, call me pessimist if you want, but there is no way to exsist as a human without having some kind of barrier to being a person, at least now days.
If you’re reading this and you are a woman, then this is the badge of honour you deserve for constantly dealing with double standards for 1000s of years, and a thank you for working so hard, if this means anything. But also remember, don’t stop protecting yourself from predators, but don’t jump to conclusions about people, you never know what’s happening in their head.
If you’re reading this and you are a man, then remember you don’t have to be the steryeotypical dudebro, you don’t have to fight people, you should be able to be safe to show emotion.
If you’re reading this and you are a mother/father/partner of a boy/man, then remember this. Boys don’t have to be fighters to be worthy, and boys are allowed to show emotions with you, without being told they are wrong.