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The issue about equality of men and women arose from the deeply rooted hierarchical structure that was present in the Greek society. The running of the society prompted the philosophers to give their views. Plato asserts that in the society, women were not only denied public roles in the polis but they were secluded and hidden in their homes to manage their households. Customs and laws labeled women as properties under the authority of their husbands and fathers. It is also attested that not only are women considered inferior in the Greek society alone but other societies as well. Plato believed that the women had similar capabilities to men.

From the way the society is run, Plato argues that given the same education and skills as men, women can perform roles equal to men. Looking at his arguments keenly, Plato seems to contradict himself by saying that though both sexes are of the same nature, women are physically weaker than men. It is from this notion that the question arises whether men and women are essentially the same.

Men and women cannot be essentially the same. First, the difference comes from their creational nature. Though given the same education and skills, women are subordinated by their reproductive nature and responsibilities. Their child bearing and rearing nature makes them not to be essentially the same as men.

Secondly, while Plato asserts that men and women are essentially the same, he fails to recognize the individual perspectives. It is the view of this paper that men and women are different and therefore cannot be equally the same. Given the same opportunities, some women can perform roles in the same capacity as men, while others cannot depend on their individual variability and different innate qualities.

Finally, men and women are not essentially the same because of their physical capacity. Physically, men are stronger than women and therefore can perform tasks that require stamina better than women. This argument is even supported from Plato’s point of view that agrees that women are weaker than men.

In conclusion, there exist several reasons that make the two sexes to be different from one another. Human beings vary in their nature, even though they are exposed to the same opportunities, their innate qualities and nature brings out a difference. People vary in thoughts, beliefs and ideas and therefore cannot be essentially the same.