Should it: Why is it generally accepted that a woman cannot be an independent unit of society?

The idea that the man is the head and the woman is the neck has not yet completely lost its validity (unfortunately!). On the one hand, a woman’s role model is no longer just about owning a stove, because she can provide a safe and comfortable life with all the facilities she needs. On the other hand, beliefs such as “I should” still put pressure on women, although to a lesser extent.

Traditions are being questioned

Yes, for centuries the roles of men and women were clearly defined in most societies. The child’s becoming a man proceeded according to the usual plan of creating his own social unit: planting a tree, building a house, and bearing an heir, and in all this the woman’s duty is to be the guardian of this unit. However, socio-cultural progress began to make its own adjustments in the mid-19th century. By fighting for their rights, women changed fundamental attitudes of gender identity: They cut their hair short, preferred looser and simpler clothing styles instead of puffy dresses and tight corsets, and most importantly, they demanded the opportunity to study.

The need for education was so clearly realized that the University Charter of 1863, which prohibited women from studying, did not constitute an obstacle for them – young girls began to go abroad en masse to obtain knowledge, primarily to the University of Zurich. Changes did not take long to come in the establishment of the family institution: women realized that they wanted complete independence, the right to divorce and other forms of marriage (fictitious, civil). These “new women” have led global change, so what continues to hold us back now?

Double standard

It is easy to see these in the main areas of life: family, society, career. The responsibility for raising children falls primarily on women, while men are allowed to prioritize their careers and personal interests. In the career field, women may face negative stereotypes about their leadership abilities, ambition, and leadership skills. And finally, public opinion is the most important source of double standards: if a woman prefers career to family, then everyone’s favorite: “Who will give you a glass of water when you get old?” It won’t take long for you to wait, but if, on the contrary, reproaches like “What will you do when the children grow up?”, “Men love self-sufficient women” begin to rain down.

Women have long proven that they can do anything

For the woman of the 21st century, having children is no longer an obstacle to establishing a successful career. According to Rosstat, in 10 years the number of working mothers increased to 67.1%. According to the “Women in Business 2020” report of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, the share of women entrepreneurs in Russia is 34.6%, one of the highest rates among developed economies. As a result, the 21st century woman has the unique ability to create her life the way she wants. Independence, self-realization and social activity have become an integral part of our reality, where we ourselves can build a house and plant a tree. It is our decision not to do any of these.