Is it a part of human nature to oppress or criticize someone who is different from you?

The United States is one of the most developed countries in the world yet there are still differences in the rights bestowed upon men and women. In the essay “There is no Unmarked Woman”, Deborah Tanner points out the minute differences between men and women in society such as how “ ‘Ms.’ declines to let on about marriage (checking ‘Mr.” declines nothing) (Tanner 391). The fact that any differences occur between genders is shameful considering how advanced modern day society has become. Are these unjust differences in rights among genders a choice that humans make or is it just natural to oppress people contrasting from yourself?

            The Puritans who were once oppressed and persecuted found it so easy to become the oppressors and persecutors. It’s almost like they felt limiting other people’s rights was fair despite having their rights limited for hundreds of years. Since the beginning of civilization, humans felt they had the right to dominate people mentally and physically.  Yet an interesting article in the New York Times shows that not all humans favor inequality. The Vanatinai people of Papua New Guinea have a society where men and woman share equal “burdens and privileges”. This outlier among societies gives hope that it’s not in our nature to limit peoples rights and that it is possible to one day attain a harmonious society.