Gender inequality is a persistent global issue that affects individuals, communities, and societies worldwide. It refers to the social phenomenon where individuals are discriminated against based on their sex or gender. Gender inequality is deeply rooted in modern society and manifests in numerous forms, from economic disparities to social stereotypes, on top of many others.
Nevertheless, significant progress has been made in recent years through legal reforms, such as narrowing the wage gap and widening access to education. On September 16th, 2023, the SAGE team collaborated with the Kowloon City Baptist Church Neighbourhood Elderly Centre and interviewed the elderly to learn about how the social issue has changed over the years.
After our discussions with the elders, SAGE was surprised to have received mixed results. On one hand, some elders shared that they have not experienced gender inequality and that both men and women are treated equally in Hong Kong. “In the poorer area I lived in, a lot of girls couldn’t go to school, but the boys couldn’t either,” one elderly woman shared. Another elderly woman said that “both of my sons help their wives with their chores after a long day of work”, despite people commonly believing that women are the homemakers.
Contrastingly, some elders shared their experiences of gender inequality, many having witnessed their children experiencing adversity as a result of this inequality. Some claimed that mistreatment in education and work was concerning. “While the men would go off seeking higher education and even applying for jobs, the women were sometimes only able to complete high school education. They eventually would later seek a husband for economic stability.”
At the same time, the elders recognise how Hong Kong has improved throughout the years: many agreed that they are hearing of dramatically fewer domestic abuse instances within their neighborhoods and that more girls attend school and university. Furthermore, they stated that girls have a more prevalent role in the workforce now. Seeing how women are now portraying roles that were once dominantly represented by men made one grandma we talked to feel proud and empowered.
On ending our visit, the elders shared some words of wisdom. One woman advised that the younger generations be kind to one another; the elderly believed that solutions to gender inequality can be found by seeking help and connecting to people in similar situations to empower everyone. We must remind ourselves of the sacrifices that previous generations have made to provide us with the opportunities we have now and treat everyone equally in cherishing these privileges.
