Like so many areas of social media, the conversation of gender equality has fallen down a rabbit hole of juvenile bickering, pedantry, and cringey catchphrases most appropriate for playground bullies. The war drum of the self-righteous beats on. Once a noble movement, steadfast in securing women’s financial freedom, their right to vote and work, their bodily integrity, and other non-negotiable rights, each essential for women to be seen as fully autonomous humans… The baton has since been passed to an army of terminally-online social-media-nit-wits, narcissists, and overgrown babies, who have lost sight of their own priorities, and turned the baton into a steel bat to hit men with. For many the the battle has changed too – Women don’t have enough pockets. Siri is misogynistic. Are bearded men more sexist? I’m not saying such issues should be ignored; but over here, the boys are dying younger in every country, in every age group, are behind at every stage of western education, and the cavalry have still not arrived. But yes let’s close the gap on iPhone games. On Wikipedia editors. On pot smokers. So, whilst many advocate for equal pockets, men are left to die, fighting for the basic right just to live as long as women. Have we lost sight of our priorities? Have we ceded the steering wheel of advocacy to a corrupt captain? And what might it look like, if I were to adopt such a world view? What do you think? ~ Images by Getty, Adrian Infernus, Codioful, Arms Anthony Tran

2024-03-31