Megan Jarrett
ENGL 1101
Dr. Weakland
April 6, 2019
Unequal treatment of children in families based on gender
Some children around the world, mainly females feel as if they can’t consider themselves equal to their siblings, mainly their male siblings. Female children are usually more protected by their families and sometimes do not get as much freedom as their male siblings. Some females are capable of handling themselves just as well as males are, and therefore should be treated as such.
Growing up I was the baby of the family, although it was just me and my older brother. I remember watching him get older and was able to start doing things with his friends and spending the night off at other people’s houses. Almost every time he asked my parents to do something, the answer was always yes. I would see him go off and do these things and envy the day I got old enough to do them with my friends too. I don’t remember the exact first time I asked my parents could I go off and stay at a friend’s house for the night, but I do remember what they would tell me almost every time I did ask. They never really minded but I always had to make sure that my friends parents talked on the phone to my parents, to establish where I would be and what I would be doing while over there. I never really investigated it until I started getting older and noticed that my brother had it way easier than I did and talking amongst my other friends I realized I wasn’t alone.
Parents nowadays are most hesitant to let their daughters do anything without constant check-ups and while limiting their time out of the house. The excuse that most parents give when confronted about these restrictions is: “because you’re a girl”. This isn’t fair to those girls who know how to handle themselves in certain situations and make good choices almost all the time. It’s kind of like the scenario where a dad is thrilled when his son gets in bed with a girl for the first time, but all hell breaks loose when he finds out his daughter has done the same with a guy. It’s double standards and can make a girl feel helpless if she’s not allowed to have fun without the fear of feeling like she can’t be trusted enough, and has to abide by all of these regulations set by her parents, specifically because of her gender. Parents should worry about their kids, but also monitor them in a way that is comfortable for both the parent and child.
Gender plays a big role when it comes to curfews and who can hang out with who. Typically, females are given a certain time they must be back home, with little to no exceptions. I remember one time my mom told me that I had to be home from my boyfriends house at 9:30, not 9:31, 9:32, but 9:30. It was a weekend night so I don’t understand why my curfew was so early, but I had no choice but to abide by it. On the other hand, I would hear my brother comes in some nights at 2:00 in the morning and my parents wouldn’t bat an eye towards it the next day. These females are also heavily regulated on who they can spend time with and what they can do when people come over. For example, most females cannot have their significant other in their room when they come visit, they usually must sit somewhere where they can be monitored. This is different for most males as everyone I know can have their girlfriend in their room with the door shut, and their parents act like it’s nothing. It’s unfair to these females as they feel helpless, but they can’t do anything because this treatment comes with being a female.
Parents should understand that gender shouldn’t determine how much freedom children should have. It’s determined that most females are more responsible than males, yet we still get treated unequally when trying to have fun or go out with friends. Females are put under certain regulations to shield them from harm’s way, but we need our freedom if we want to learn how to grow.
ENGL 1101
Dr. Weakland
April 6, 2019
Unequal treatment of children in families based on gender
Some children around the world, mainly females feel as if they can’t consider themselves equal to their siblings, mainly their male siblings. Female children are usually more protected by their families and sometimes do not get as much freedom as their male siblings. Some females are capable of handling themselves just as well as males are, and therefore should be treated as such.
Growing up I was the baby of the family, although it was just me and my older brother. I remember watching him get older and was able to start doing things with his friends and spending the night off at other people’s houses. Almost every time he asked my parents to do something, the answer was always yes. I would see him go off and do these things and envy the day I got old enough to do them with my friends too. I don’t remember the exact first time I asked my parents could I go off and stay at a friend’s house for the night, but I do remember what they would tell me almost every time I did ask. They never really minded but I always had to make sure that my friends parents talked on the phone to my parents, to establish where I would be and what I would be doing while over there. I never really investigated it until I started getting older and noticed that my brother had it way easier than I did and talking amongst my other friends I realized I wasn’t alone.
Parents nowadays are most hesitant to let their daughters do anything without constant check-ups and while limiting their time out of the house. The excuse that most parents give when confronted about these restrictions is: “because you’re a girl”. This isn’t fair to those girls who know how to handle themselves in certain situations and make good choices almost all the time. It’s kind of like the scenario where a dad is thrilled when his son gets in bed with a girl for the first time, but all hell breaks loose when he finds out his daughter has done the same with a guy. It’s double standards and can make a girl feel helpless if she’s not allowed to have fun without the fear of feeling like she can’t be trusted enough, and has to abide by all of these regulations set by her parents, specifically because of her gender. Parents should worry about their kids, but also monitor them in a way that is comfortable for both the parent and child.
Gender plays a big role when it comes to curfews and who can hang out with who. Typically, females are given a certain time they must be back home, with little to no exceptions. I remember one time my mom told me that I had to be home from my boyfriends house at 9:30, not 9:31, 9:32, but 9:30. It was a weekend night so I don’t understand why my curfew was so early, but I had no choice but to abide by it. On the other hand, I would hear my brother comes in some nights at 2:00 in the morning and my parents wouldn’t bat an eye towards it the next day. These females are also heavily regulated on who they can spend time with and what they can do when people come over. For example, most females cannot have their significant other in their room when they come visit, they usually must sit somewhere where they can be monitored. This is different for most males as everyone I know can have their girlfriend in their room with the door shut, and their parents act like it’s nothing. It’s unfair to these females as they feel helpless, but they can’t do anything because this treatment comes with being a female.
Parents should understand that gender shouldn’t determine how much freedom children should have. It’s determined that most females are more responsible than males, yet we still get treated unequally when trying to have fun or go out with friends. Females are put under certain regulations to shield them from harm’s way, but we need our freedom if we want to learn how to grow.
This essay is really good and well put together. It is very organized and has strong body paragraphs. One thing I would try to work on is stronger topic sentences, and make sure you address what your counter argument or the other side would be. Overall a good essay in my opinion.
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