“Women basically already have equal rights in the West”

[Ethelfleda]

I’ve heard this statement from a few people over the past year or so, always from men.
I know they’re wrong but I so rarely know how to tell them they’re wrong.
I want to tell them they’re wrong without patronising them because it is my belief that once you do this, you alienate your audience and they won’t ever come around to your way of thinking.

What do you say to this statement??

Have to say how much I have enjoyed and appreciated your posts. I always look out for them. You seem to have a knack for getting to the nub of an issue and articulating it better than most; certainly more succinctly than me. I think that is because you are able to retain an element of personal detachment that most can't. Certainly more than me.

Thanks, Just, you're very kind. I don't know that I am really detached but generally people seem to think I am. IN fact I remember the labour nurse when I had my eldest saying something similar and I'm 100% positive it wasn't the case.

Here are some differences I experienced:
*Girls discouraged from doing technical drawing
*Women still required to wear uncomfortable shoes in many occuaptions
*Women often give up their surname when married
*Social conditioning of women: many still so worried about how they look and not who they are and their achievements
*Going part time or giving up work to look after children, becoming dependent upon the partner
*Staying with abusive partners for the sake of the children thru fear and low self esteem
*Not voting or keeping informed on world events and trying not to be too intelligent in front of boyfriends, DP who might feel threatened.