Men and women are equal as human beings, but there are distinct differences between them that must be acknowledged.
Imagine a 5-foot 8-inch, 120-pound woman aspiring to be a linebacker in the NFL. That woman would not survive the physical demands of the position. While there may be exceptionally strong women out there, the general truth is that women are not built the same as men and never will be.
Generally speaking, men can do everything a woman can do, but women cannot do everything men can do. This statement holds true in many aspects. Men can perform delicate tasks that women excel at, but women generally cannot perform feats of strength that men can. Men can cook and sew, while women cannot typically bench press 350 pounds.
There is nothing wrong with acknowledging these differences. Men and women have evolved with physical and mental capacities that suit them to different tasks. While men can do intricate needlework, their larger, more muscular hands make it more challenging. Conversely, while a woman can hunt down a buffalo, the task is generally better suited to men.
Life and evolution have naturally assigned certain tasks to the gender best suited for them. This division of labor results from both biological and circumstantial factors, allowing each gender to excel at what they are naturally better at.
Are there exceptions to these general rules? Of course, but they do not change the overall picture. It is okay for men and women to be different. It is okay for men to bear burdens while women care for things. Two million years of evolution have shaped us into what we are today, and this has proven effective.
There is nothing degrading about a woman preparing food with a child on her hip, just as there is nothing degrading about a man risking his life to hunt for food. Modern times have blurred these traditional roles, but this does not make the traditional roles bad. We cannot undo two million years of evolution overnight, and we should consider whether we even should.
Men, for the most part, are content with being men, but some women seem to believe they need to be the same as men. This perspective overlooks the value in our differences and is ultimately misguided.
Copyright 2017 Joel E. Mason