Are Freedom and Equality Granted by Law, or our Peers?

Question

Two major battles contested by Western Feminism over the last 100 years have included:

Equal Opportunities in the Workplace

Equal Opportunity for Higher Education

Yet it is very hard to prove that a person has been granted promotion, or denied it on the basis of their gender. Or assess the attitudes of those who make such choices about their employees.

And while women may be granted admission to college on the basis of the grades they achieve, there can be significant pressures placed to do "female" subjects (the arts) by schools, parents and peers.

Law may provide a framework for equality, but to what extent can equality be achieved through law?

Are Freedom and Equality Granted by Law, or our Peers?

Answer 1

If you add race, then it is according to a quota.

Answer 2

geeeez... i've been asking that for years, though maybe not so articulately.

the answer is our peers.

Answer 3

I think you've already summed it up in your question. The law can set precendents and grant protections against blatant discrimination, but only where specific and measurable actions are clearly defined as discriminatory. Unfortunately, "equality" is a subjective term, and the law is not a subjective mechanism. Only "peers" or, in my own words, other members of our society, can truly grant the individual actions of respect which support a truly "equal" relationship within society.

So my answer is:  Law is explicit and non-subjective and thus cannot be effectively used to impact quality of life attributes which cannot be quantifiably measured.

Answer 4

You can pass any laws you want, but ask anyone in many businesses what goes on behind closed doors when making decisions, it is very dirty.

I have witnessed it many times.

Answer 5

It's interesting because even though people think of laws as hard and fast unbendable and undeniable truths, but in some ways there are more like a living breathing creation. Because laws are created by humans, obeyed or broken by humans, and enforced by humans, the only difference between a law and those living under it is the perceptions of those people. It's like how people look up to the Constitution as the be all end all, but never think about how it was created or why it is important.

Because people will continue to believe or act however they please, even with "laws" in place to protect the rights of others, it just takes one person to undo that law by breaking it. Because the government can often not prove or determine illegal activity, laws are broken every day without consequence. Clearly those you call peers are the ones who determine the law, especially pertaining to intangible truths like freedom and equality. Therefore, the "laws" are just words on paper.

Answer 6

Basic freedom is afforded to us by law, but ultimate freedom is given by our peers.  A lot of our choices are often influenced by classist, nationalists, or gender related beliefs that our extended families, co-workers, and  concentric circle have.  Examples:  pressure to marry in ones own ethnic group,  religion, or economic class, pressure to date, marry, or socialize what others see as age- appropriately, and pressure to share the same beliefs and attitudes as those in your political party.  Everyone would have a much easier time pursuing happiness if others didn't stigmatize them and discourage them from doing it because of their own hang-ups.

Answer 7

Laws may be passed, but they are followed or practiced by society...our peers.  So if we do not have adherence to the laws by society, the creation of the laws have no real bearing.  And the laws you suggest are ones very difficult to enforce...

Answer 8

There are no rights, only social pacts between generations. Ultimately, all freedom and equality are granted by our peers. This is why morality matters. But keep this in mind, behind every law, there is a gun to back it up.

Answer 9

The people that make laws are our peers. They weren't born into the goverment.