Misunderstandings about gender equality and gender discrimination

 Misunderstandings about gender equality and gender discrimination

Misunderstandings Between Gender Equality and Gender Distinction

From a spiritual perspective, certain misunderstandings about gender equality are apparent.

In Japan, the societal perception of gender equality often seems to emerge as women move closer to traditionally male values. One might observe a social trend where equality is measured by how closely women mirror men, rather than recognizing inherent differences.

According to reports on platforms like Ameba News, there are discussions on social media questioning statements such as “because you are a woman” or “because you are a man.” Society appears highly sensitive to gender issues, and there is a pervasive expectation that everything must adhere strictly to the principle of equality between men and women.

At its core, however, men and women naturally possess different qualities. If these differences are forcibly treated as equal, distortions and imbalances inevitably arise.

Regarding the psychological differences between men and women: men tend to have a stronger desire to notice and act toward others rather than to be noticed themselves, whereas women tend to desire being noticed more than taking the initiative to notice. Ideally, these opposing tendencies function like magnets, naturally attracting each other and making it easier for men and women — as complementary opposites — to form bonds.

Men, at their core, tend to direct their awareness toward their own hobbies, work, and the women around them, focusing on the visible, tangible aspects of the real world.

This tendency has deep roots: in ancient times, men spent long periods hunting large prey such as mammoths, which instinctively strengthened this focus.

Women, on the other hand, often feel a stronger desire than men to enhance their own value in order to be noticed, and this naturally heightens their awareness of their own inner selves.

In matters of love and the heart, these tendencies are especially observable in women, who may better understand and relate to these dynamics.

If one argues that emphasizing “femininity” is undesirable, then by the same logic, women wearing makeup would also be seen as unnecessary; ideally, they would appear in public without adornment, just as men do.

If male nature is defined by the desire to notice rather than be noticed, one could argue that men should similarly focus on enhancing their own presence, akin to how women dress to express themselves.

From a woman’s perspective, if men’s attention turns excessively toward themselves, as in narcissistic tendencies, they may fail to notice the care and effort women put into their appearance.

In the past, some men have expressed contradictory attitudes toward women — strongly advocating gender equality while simultaneously expecting special treatment as women.

Interest in gender equality often appears more strongly in women. This is because men have many objects of attention in the world, and when their focus shifts elsewhere, their concern for gender equality may diminish.

As I have discussed many times on this blog, the growth of the soul parallels intellectual growth: each awakening of knowledge contributes to intellectual development, just as each awakening of the heart contributes to spiritual maturity (reikaku).

When spiritual maturity rises, one’s presence in a spiritual sense strengthens, along with the ability to fulfill the hearts of others. The more awakenings one experiences, the broader one’s perspective becomes. This is not a difficult concept — it is simply the process of becoming spiritually mature.

Conversely, low spiritual maturity manifests as weaker presence, a tendency to prioritize one’s own satisfaction over fulfilling others, and a narrower perspective due to fewer awakenings. Again, this is not complex — it is essentially a state of spiritual childhood.

Those with low spiritual maturity often exhibit a strong tendency to seek high values externally. This is especially observable in women who are highly focused on their own worth, and it may manifest in the form of strict adherence to notions of gender equality.

Because their perspective is narrow, this is understandable. However, when the words and actions of those with low spiritual maturity become societal norms, distortions and imbalances are likely to emerge in relationships between men and women.