Gender Equality and Marriage
On September 20, 2014, Emma Watson, British actor and Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women, launched the HeForShe initiative for gender equality at the United Nations. She gave a moving speech, in which she called on men and boys to join women and girls in advocating for a world in which both sexes have equal rights and opportunities, socially, politically and economically. Her speech touched me deeply. You can listen to her speech here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjW9PZBRfk.
As a father, I want all societal limits on my daughters’ access to opportunity and equal rights to disappear. I want my daughters to be afforded the same respect in the workforce as men and to be paid on an equal basis with men. I want them to know they are as valuable, capable and resourceful as anyone else, male or female. I want them to be able to fulfill their dreams, whatever they are.
I want my son as well as my grandsons to know that it is OK to be sensitive and strong. Being vulnerable, sharing feelings and expressing love are keys to health and well-being. Cooperation, teamwork and partnership in marriage are important to long-term success and happiness.
As a husband, I want to be a partner in assisting my wife, Martha, in fulfilling her dreams, all of them. I want Martha to be fully expressed and to be able to have the same rights, privileges and opportunities that I have as a male in society.
We both know that our marriage only works when Martha and I hold each other as equal human beings, regardless of our sexual identity. When we do, Martha and I have an egalitarian relationship, we are on an equal footing with each other and we treat each other equitably. True partnership in our marriage is made possible.
Her thoughts and ideas are as valuable as mine. My feelings are as important as hers. Our individual accomplishments as well as our failures strengthen our marriage. Her wins are my wins. Her struggles are mine. My challenges are hers. My successes are hers. We are partners in life together.
As Emma Watson advocates, I am for her. She is for me. We are for us. The quality of our partnership in our life together rests on the principle of gender equality. As a man, as a husband, as a father, as a grandfather and a human being, I stand with Emma Watson in her call for gender equality in all societies around the globe.
Posted in Partnership Marriage
