5. Something that matters to me-the lack of gender equality, within the western world. TW- rape & domestic abuse You might say that I’m lucky girl to live somewhere where I am relatively free. The UK is not under Islam law, I am not required to have a male chaperone, I have a good education, I can vote when I get to the age of majority, I can wear what I like. Despite this, women in the UK are not afforded equal respect in their lives. Women typically earn less than men for doing the same job. As of November last year, the average pay gap was 9.6%. If a man and a woman work the same job for a year, and get paid their respective salaries, the woman would be working for free for a month and a week. The gap widens depending on which jobs you look at. From a young age, girls are objectified. Corporate companies encourage the view that even young girls are sexual objects. High heels are made in sizes fitting five year olds, and push up bras are made available for eight-year olds, who haven’t even hit puberty. The media is full of scantily clad women, and the overall effect is that girls feel they have a duty to please. This has a knockon effect on confidence, self esteem, relationships and someone’s quality of life. Society holds double standards. If a man sleeps with many women, he is a stud. If a woman sleeps with many men, she is a slut. While it is everyone’s own business, and hopefully their own choice, as to how many people they have sex with, they should not be judged for actions such as these, and they should not be held to different expectations based on sex. Rape is still prevalent, as is domestic violence. Two women a week are killed in the UK by a current or former partner. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men are victims of domestic violence. The conviction rate, convicted out of reported violence, is 69%. However, it is believed that 70% of domestic abuse goes unreported. 1 in 4 women in her life gets raped. At least 78,000 a year in the UK. About 1150 rapists were convicted. That’s 1.4%. On top of this, the media, the courts and the onlookers have a tendency to blame the victim. Or disbelieve them. In short, western society has a bad attitude towards abuse victims. I understand that men can be on the receiving end of these things-objectification, domestic violence, rape. These things are important to note in gender and social studies. I understand that the situation is much much worse in other countries. I don’t want women to sit in the seat of the patriarchy, dominating society. I want that seat gone, and for all genders to be equal. And even in a country that claims that it has come a long way in gender equality, we still have a long way to come.