We Are All Human

¨As you become more successful, the gender barrier disappears. The credibility challenges you have during your growing up years starts disappearing when you start demonstrating success.¨ Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw once stated. I was not surprised when I found that Shaw was not American, but was speaking from the perspective of living in India. Unfortunately, this quote does not hold true to American culture. In America, a woman in a respectable job position gets paid less than what a man in the same position gets paid. Why does the gender barrier disappear in India, but remains prevalent in America?

In my opinion, America has developed a firm ideology that men are the bread winners. The man should be the one to support and supply in the relationship. Men may even feel ashamed if they do not provide as much in the relationship, because of how important income is to one´s manhood. I understand that when someone does not pull their weight in a group or partnership, they tend to feel unsatisfied or disappointed in his or herself. However, if the weight is being pulled, no matter who is pulling more of it, both contributors are credited for their efforts made. I find it pathetic that a man can not credit a woman´s success simply because they are making less money than she is. 

In today´s society, I feel that women are able to compete with men. I believe that in previous generations, and in other cultures, a girl is raised to search for a husband that will ¨take care¨ of her. A man who takes care of a woman is typically parallel to that of a man that makes a substantial amount of money. However, I think that in the present day, young American girls are brought up to be more independent. 

In conclusion, success is success. Usually linked with money, success should be credited to whomever earns it. America fails treat men and women equally which is apparent in the wages that each sex earns. Coincidentally, America´s failure to do so is aligned with the values of manhood. Our culture revolves around men maintaining power. Women are capable of power and should not have to be concerned with hurting a man´s sense of manhood. We are all human beings and should be treated equally.