The Weakness of the Man at the Presence of the Woman
Several research studies and journals have devoted their attention to feminist issues, especially when investigating issues of virtue ethics and gender differences based on the aforementioned philosophical idea (virtue ethics). Rather than help us determine what we ought to do, virtue ethics asks how we ought to be in order to become good members of the society (MacKinnon, 2013). Naturally, men act with much aggression than women do. Additionally, men appear to be weaker when they are around women. In most cases, men have given in to the demands of women, simply because they are women, and not because they deserve the favors men award them. For instance, a male librarian might overlook other men in the queue and cal in a lady standing a few steps away to be attended to her arguing on the principle of “ladies first.”
According to the gender differences in value ethics, men are significantly outgoing, aggressive, and assertive (Hong, & Chenyang, 2005). On the other hand, women are introversive and submissive (Hong, & Chenyang, 2005). An example of the gender differences in value ethics is witnessed in colleges, especially when students are planning to go on strike, for instance due to the increased fees. In such cases, male students are usually on the forefront of the strike and mastermind the planning of the whole process. Female students usually stay behind the crowd only to shout. In case the anti riot authorities are brought in to curb the situation, women usually retrieve from the battle to leave the men to continue with the violent strikes and chanting on the strikes. Research indicates that strikes have been witnessed in boys’ schools than in girls’ schools (Payne, 2009). In the latter, the students have frequently launched complaints to the relevant departments. Male-headed departments have always awarded the girls their requests as opposed to the female-headed departments.
In my opinion, when men and women are allowed to work in the same environment and with similar responsibilities, men would have an advantage making moral or ethical choices. Virtue ethics asks us how we ought to be (MacKinnon, 2013). Therefore, due to the submissive nature of men in the society, they would always submit to the moral and ethical demands of the women. Women, however, due to their fear and introversive nature, they would always fear to deny the unethical demands of the men, especially in workplaces. The fear of a looming strike by male workers would definitely force a woman manage to submit to the demands of the employees without consideration of their ethical or moral aspects.
Peer Discussion
I agree with you on the fact that men react differently when there is a woman present (Bright, Winn, & Kanov, 2014). I believe men are even weaker in front of women are often submissive to women’s demands. However, I am not sure if denying a lady a ticket simply because the police officer is male is ethical. Nevertheless, I also agree with you that men are raised to be very macho and have this manly bravado about themselves. I believe that you have used an accurate example to illustrate the gender differences in virtue ethics with the workplace example.
References:
MacKinnon, B. (2013). Ethics: Theory and contemporary issues, Concise Edition (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
Payne, A. (2009). Girls, Boys, and Schools: Gender Differences in the Relationships between School-Related Factors and Student Deviance. Criminology, 47(4), 1167-1200.
Hong, X., & Chenyang, L. (2005). Ethics and Leadership: A Comparison of Hobbesian Men, Gilliganian Women, and Confucian Asians. East West Connections, 5(1), 107-114.
Bright, D., Winn, B., & Kanov, J. (2014). Reconsidering Virtue: Differences of Perspective in Virtue Ethics and the Positive Social Sciences. Journal Of Business Ethics, 119(4), 445-460. doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1832-x
