Happy Birthday To Allan~!!

Hey guys.... today is Allan's birthday... let's wish him HAPPY BIRTHDAY~!!




Well.. since we are like a big family.. so I just came out with this thought of posting a birthday message here for him... and wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY~!!

Here's a birthday song for him:
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to ALLAN,
Happy birthday to you~!!


Sharon

Say No To Discrimination~!!

Sharon

Comments anyone?

Hi there~!

To everyone out there who is viewing our blog, we would like to sincerely thank you for spending your time to take a peek at our blog~!

As our group name suggests - Being 2gether is Fun, we believe that everyone should mix around and not discriminate each other due to our difference in gender. Therefore, we strongly go against gender discrimination that not only discriminate females but males as well.

However, we would like to take a look at the opinions of others, hence, having a poll created to know whether we have to same view as the society. It would be better if you could take some time to post your comments on gender discrimination; why you go against or support gender discrimination, any example or experience of gender discrimination and other relevant points to gender discrimination would be most welcomed.

Last but not least, we thank you for your attention and hope you enjoy your time reading our blog~!!


Allan

Religious View On Gender Discrimination

Islam

In the past, for Muslim women living in Europe, discrimination occured on two levels. Discrimination occured from the exterior society especially when looking for a job, in the workplace or at school and moreso for Muslim women who chose to wear the headscarf. Besides, the real discrimination also existed between men and women at home and within the family structure. Many Muslim women were forbidden to work by their husbands and some were married against their wishes.

However, nowadays, looking into the Islamic gender discourse, on realise that men and women are equally treated by Allah in terms of their rights and responsibilities either in this life or in the life to come. They are awarded the same for their good deeds or punished the same for the bad ones. Allah commanded the believers to offer their children the same chances of life such as education and health care. Men and women receive the same salaries for the jobs they do. They share equal responsibilities of bringing up their children and the housework. This shows that there is no gender discrimination among the Islamic believers.

Spiritual Equality of Women and Men
"Allah has got ready forgiveness and tremendous rewards for the Muslim men and women; the believing men and women; the devout men and women; the truthful men and women; the patiently suffering men and women; the humble men and women; the almsgiving men and women; the fasting men and women, the men and women who guard their chastity; and the men and women who are exceedingly mindful of Allah." (Al-Ahzab 33:35)

"Treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers."(From the last sermon of Prophet Mohammed)




Sylvia

Christianity

In Christianity, it does not mention clearly whether it is against gender discrimination or not, but, there are some passages from the bible which show that Christianity disallows gender discrimination. God created us for some reason and every one of us is unique to Him. His believers are like His own children. It would be sad if we are discriminating one another just because we have the different gender, thinking that what kind of job is only suitable for which particular gender of person to do. When God created us, He was hoping that we would love one another and we would not practice gender discrimination.

However, in the early years, the statuses of women as described in Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) are very low. They are often being described in negative terms such as sexual predators, deceitful and untrustworthy. For example, in one of the passages from the bible, Genesis 39:7-20: Potiphar was an official in the court of the Pharaoh. His wife unsuccessfully attempted to seduce Joseph (THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES: Old Testament passages describing women in negative terms; as equal to men; & as leaders). She later falsely accused him of attempting to rape her, and had him arrested. From this passage, it shows that the woman was described as someone who was bad and troublesome.

But, there are also some passages from the Old Testament that mention women were also being viewed as equal to men and were described as leaders. Therefore, it shows that Christianity also respects women and gives women the equal right as men. For example, in the passage from the bible, Exodus 21:32: A slave owner would receive equal compensation if an ox gored one of his slaves, whether the victim was male or female (THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES: Old Testament passages describing women in negative terms; as equal to men; & as leaders). From this passage, it shows that both man and woman have equal value. It is mentioned that it does not matter if the victim is a male or a female; the slave owner would receive equal compensation. The slave owner would not receive more compensation if the victim is a female or less amount of compensation if the victim is a male or vice versa. It simply means that both woman and man have the same value of life and should be treated equally.

Plus, in the modern days, the statuses of women have been improved bit by bit in the view of Christianity. They are gaining equality slowly. In the Episcopal Church in the western country, they have elected Right Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori to be its Presiding Bishop, and the first female Primate of the Anglican Communion. Thus, it shows that women’s statuses are higher than in the early years and that there is no more gender discrimination happening in Christianity. So, it shows that Christianity prohibit gender discrimination.

Sharon


Buddhism

In countries where there is no bhiksunt to perform the ordination of nuns, monks often take the responsibility. The monks are acting compassionately when they ordain nuns, since nuns in the countries without bhiksunts could not become ordained without the help of monks. Although nuns are limited by the absence of bhiksunts, nuns literally become disempowered by relinquishing their monastic authority.

Over the years, gender imbalance happened in Buddhism. People often dismiss the gender imbalance and say that gender equality is not necessary for Dharma practice. They recognize that there is a gender imbalance in Buddhism and acknowledge that monks have more opportunities than nuns, but believe that gender difference are irrelevant to achieving enlightenment. Even if there is gender discrimination in Buddhism, many would claim that it cannot prevent women from achieving nirvana.

Nowadays, some people may deny that there is no gender discrimination exists in Buddhism. This is because women can do anything that men can do and women are able to achieve whatever goal they strive for. If women want enlightenment, they can get it, given that they work hard enough. Nothing can prevent women from achieving enlightenment.

Sylvia

STOP DISCRIMINATION!!

Sylvia

Arguments...

Unfair Treatments

One of the reasons as to why gender discrimination should be discouraged is because of the unfair treatments towards the females when compare to the males in the society, in schools and even in their own family.

Generally, most of the housework in the family is done by female family members although some of them have to work outdoors like most of the males. Imagine a housewife who is also working outside the house has to sacrifice so much of her time and her energy to prepare dinner, wash the laundry, take care of the children's school works and other household chores after she comes back from the office at 5 in the evening. However, some of the males in the house not only do not appreciate what their wife has done but take that as granted as though it is a tradition where all females should serve males. Worse, some husbands even abuse their wives despite what their wives have done for them. A family should consist of not only the females but the males as well to be willing to help each other out to maintain a harmonious family.

Unfair treatments between genders are also found to happen in schools. In the past, only males are allowed to attend school but females were not given the chance to be educated. The society in the olden days believes that man had the responsibility of carrying out the duty for their country and one of the ways was to equip himself with profound knowledge. As for females, they were considered to be unimportant and only need to fulfill their responsibility of serving their husband to the fullest. However, it is a relief now to see some changes in our education system where males and females have the equal right of getting a proper education as mentioned in all constitutions of the countries in the world.

Besides that, there are other unfair treatments that are currently faced by females in the society. Females are still treated unjust and discriminated because of their gender. Unfair treatments such as salary is paid less to the females than the males and chances of the females getting a promotion in their careers are fewer than the males are also experienced in companies that practice gender discrimination. Some even give out comments as to certain types of jobs should only be done by females. In worse cases, some females are sexually harassed by their colleagues or managers who treat females as ‘toys’. Such acts that involve unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace are known as sexual harassment and they are unlawful in the eyes of the law.


Human Rights

In the East, there are a lot of unfair treatments happening to females. A culture known as purchased slave where a female is purchased by rich people with money is still happening in most African countries although slave trade has been abolished. The lady would have to obey her master's instructions and follow her master forever.

Second marriage of a husband is also unfair to his wife for it is considered as an unfair treatment to female. A few females have to share their husband together. Female child who is between 5 to 10 years old was married out without the knowledge of the child and at that time, the child still can’t decide what is correct and what is wrong.

Besides, sati, a wife who had been killed on her dead husband’s funeral is an obvious example of unfair treatment to female that she has to be killed because her husband die earlier than her.





Jiun Ming

Allan

Introduction to Gender Discrimination

As we are fast approaching a new modern era, women have made it clear that they have the ability to perform with equal skill and success in virtually every endeavor engaged in by men -- including employment, athletics, academics and politics. Yet discrimination on the basis of sex has a long history all over the world, and its residual effects still operate to keep women's salaries lower and opportunities fewer in the employment realm.

Gender discrimination occurs when a person is subjected to different or unequal treatment in any number of situations and that treatment is based on the person’s gender. We should not have any gender or sex discriminated because everyone should have the same opportunity to create a “level playing field” so that people are employed, paid, trained and promoted based on their skills, ability and how they work but not on their gender.




Yuan Teng