Respect.
The biggest point of contention between men and women. The root of all arguments, quarrels, misunderstandings. It is a well known fact, and yet nothing has changed in all these decades.
Men do not respect women. Period. They can love them, appreciate them, even idolize them, but they do not respect them.
By respectful men I don't mean those who open the door for us or pull out the chair for us, or pay us a compliment. That's just good manners.
Respectful men need to respect a woman's thinking and appreciate the fact that it can be different from their own. Women can think, as opposed to what most men believe, or are led to believe.
Why is it that every desire or every ambition of a woman needs to be justified with a 'logical reasoning'? Basically, a good enough reason, that makes sense in a man's world. Why can't she want something because she feels like it? Why is she questioned at every choice, every decision she makes? Why do men decide whether women are deserving enough or not?
A man, on the other hand, is given the benefit of doubt, even if he commits a cardinal sin!
It is unfortunate, but the society we live in has forced us to demand respect, to fight for it, even if we have done everything in our capacity to earn it. It is a fight in the hope to build a better future for our daughters, and a more compassionate one for our sons. A hope for a world, not of men and women, but of humans. And so, it goes on.
