It's easy to say that this doesn't apply to you, because you don't face obvious gender bias each day. However, gender bias is a constant, pervasive influence in society that affects what we do, how we feel and how we experience life. Clearly we need to make a change, but it's impossible to succeed if we don't keep in mind the reason we're working so hard. Why are we doing this? What are the stakes?
- When women are financially handicapped, they cannot provide for their families as well, so everyone suffers and poverty rates increase.
- Physical and sexual violence against women and non-binary individuals has increased at an alarming rate over the past years.
- Eating disorders are disturbingly prevalent among women, with 7 million women suffering in America per year.
- Confidence and self esteem plummets during the teenage years for females, causing depression, anxiety and a slew of other mental health disorders.
- When half of the population is not able to reach their full potential, society as a whole is unable to succeed economically and politically.
- Suicide rates among LGBT+ teenagers are four times greater than those for straight youth.
- When women aren't recognized for their accomplishments, young girls never see role models and therefore don't see themselves in positions of leadership or accomplishing important things.