Does gender or race have anything to do with what a person might be capable of accomplishing? Should it be part of deciding whether someone is permitted to do something? It has been for a very long time. And as the video says, it’s gotten “better,” but still plays too much of a role. Do you ever find yourself thinking that that person can’t do X, based on their gender or race?

While we were told as children in the 1960s that we could be anything we wanted to be, it seems like the only options open to my older sisters was wife/mother/teacher/nurse. That was it. Even “teacher” was subject to a 2,000 year old quote from the Apostle Paul, “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to keep silent.” (1 Timothy 2:12-RSVCE). 

Honestly we’re not that far removed from the crimes against women described in the video. Even now gender expectations are so strong that we have to work at not assuming what careers or missions young women would want to pursue. I’m curious how my two granddaughters will be as they venture out into their version of the world. Their mom seems to be a strong example of someone who puts herself out there to achieve what she wants for herself and her family. I am hopeful

And even though I am part of the tail-end of the Boomer generation, I’ve never understood how ones gender had anything to do with what one is capable of achieving in life. There just is no “one size fits all” aspect to this question. Sure some men and women want a conservative/subservient lifestyle, hope they match up with the partner(s) who are going to also want the same thing. Their choice should not dictate the choices or options of others. Do your little house on the prairie, if that makes you happy. But don’t expect others to live and make choices based on what roles work for you. That’s not how this works. Sadly there are place in the world, like Afghanistan, who are going in the wrong direction, dictating what women can and cannot do simply because they were born as women. We are not so far removed that we can relax when it comes to gender inequity and career censor. 

Source: Women in science who changed the world, IFLScience, https://youtu.be/W53Ks824GTA