Gender, Growth and Change

For every woman who is tired of acting
weak when she knows she is strong,
there is a man who is tired of appearing
strong when he feels vulnerable.

For every woman who is tired of acting dumb,
there is a man who is burdened with the
constant expectation of “knowing everything.”

For every woman who is tired of being called
“an emotional female,” there is a man who
is denied the right to weep and to be gentle.

For every woman who is called unfeminine when
she competes, there is a man for whom competition
is the only way to prove to his masculinity.

For every woman who is tired of being a sex object,
there is a man who must worry about his potency.

For every woman who feels “tied down” by her children,
there is a man who is denied the full pleasure of
parenthood.

For every woman who is denied meaningful employment
or equal pay, there is a man who must bear full
financial responsibility for another human being.

For every woman who was not taught the intricacies
of an automobile, there is a man who was not taught
the satisfaction of cooking.

For every woman who takes a step toward her own
liberation, there is a man who finds the way to freedom
has been made a little easier.
~From Images: Women in Transition