The "Easy" Life

I think you can go either way on saying if men or women have an easier time in life. Obviously guys don't have to go through pregnancy or childbirth, so it would seem to be easiest to say that they automatically have it easier in life. But, it isn't like guys just have a cakewalk through life. While at first blush, you may come up with a so-called obvious answer, if you start thinking about it - there might not be one in reality.

In our society, guys have to always be strong. We say we're a progressive society and that it is OK for men to be emotional or ge scared, but as soon as they do, they get mocked for it. We also still consider them to be the breadwinner and protector of the house and family. It can't always be easy to have to carry all of that on your shoulders. Girls are allowed to break down and show emotion without having to worry about it, but guys have to keep a stiff upper lip and muddle through it.

On the other hand, girls are really hard on each other. Instead of building each other up, we tend to tear ourselves down. We fight over which idea is better. Guys, though, just joke around and don't seem to get caught up in the drama or care what other's decisions are. There are examples of this all over the place. Earlier this year, there was the big kerfuffle about breast feeding. Instead of jus agreeing to say that it should be up to the woman of what it is best for her and her situation, we vilify each other for not making the "status quo" choice - or the choice one group thinks we should make. We also frequently mock the sty-at-home moms because they aren't living a "fulfilling" life and aren't trying to pave a path in the world. But, when Bill Clinton was running for president, Hillary was a "horrible" mother because she didn't stay home with Chelsea. It seems to be a damned if you do, damned if you don't on any choice a woman has to make.

What's silly is that feminism wasn't really fighting for women to make the "girl power" decision; it was fighting for women to have the ability to choose. So, we shouldn't give each other a hard time for the decision that we make - just that we are able to make one.

Like anything in life, I don't think there is a clear-cut answer to this question. It is subjective like everything else, and there are several variables to that question. It depends on the situation of that person at that exact moment. It depends on the type of person they are. And it depends on society's reaction to that person - because sometimes that's what is really what determines who has it easier.