Why aren't women and men treated the same in Judaism?

At 46, I'm still single by chance, not choice. What about men and women without their 'other half'? I'm sure you get that a lot. I respect that some mitzvot are fulfilled primarily by one gender or the other. Still, singles are left out of this equation.

My understanding is: The wearing of Tefillin is a positive, time sensitive mitzvah. Women are exempt from many such mitzvot, since other things may also be pressing for her. For example, if a woman is caring for small children in the morning, she is exempt from the mitzvah of tefillin, and her husband would perform this for them both (the way a chazan davans on behalf of a congergation during some prayers). It is not a sin for a woman to wear tefillin in the absence of a man, just as it is not a sin for a man to light Chanukkah candles in the absence of a woman. I have read of women in Medieval France who wore tefillin regularly, and I am told it has made a resurgence among some women today. My husband is non-observant, and I have considered putting on tefillin with my son when he comes of age as a way to share that tradition and to let him see that it's good to carry on traditions. It is better to celebrate the positive mitzvot than to let the traditions die out.

Women are not required, nor forbidden to fulfill the mitzvah of donning tefillin and tallit. Does that not make this then and optional mitzvah? What is so controversial about a woman performing an optional mitzvah? Is it not still a mitzvah none the less? The more light brought into the world through mitzvah observance, the better. That's just my opinion.

Interesting. So, if a woman wants to get married, she should buy tefilim and leave them in the shul. Then, she has just to find who put them to know who will be her husband ...

and yet, it seems women in Orthodox Judaism are treated less well, in terms of being heard, in terms of allowed certain privileges, that go to the men. So I am not so sure about the One Body. Is there some fear women are too, "bawdy". They have to be so covered up, and there are many who also cover their hair. This is modesty, and yes, there are many ways to see this. I do not judge, but i do say, there were great women Judges in Biblical History, and Deborah was one. I think it's time for a sweeping change, and maybe women, being very smart, are more than, just the other half of the whole. Other branches of Judaism do worship together, do dance together, and do not avert their eyes in greeting each other and hugs are perfectly OK.

I think what Rabbi Freeman meant with the wearing of the tefillim is that when women and men are married, they become one (before marriage, neither the man nor the woman is whole). It's as much a responsability for the man to put on the tefillim as it is for the woman to convince him to do so, because in the end, this man IS his wife.
We, wives, have our own responsibilities just as we have special traits to achieve them that men dont have. Just as they have their own responsibilities that we don't.
This "gender equality" probably stems from women feeling repressed and enslaved. But repressed from what? Enslaved in the house? Taking care of your kids and husband? Why is that enslavement? Why is the grass greener on the men's side? I'm a professional who works, but what am I leaving in this world when I die? My business? What I'll leave is my kids, the family my husband and I created, and if they do good or bad, that's MY responsibility as a mother and honestly, I find it beautiful.

Hmmm, a woman's body is male when he puts on tefillin?

That is a no-no in the bible.

There are certainly sexist remarks and deeds ... but, as far as I'm concerned, it's up to a woman to teach her son the value of women, definitely, and all others, for sure.

No boy should be taught that he isn't a man unless he makes his 'wife' diaper the child or wash dishes and floors.

It doesn't take a man to make a baby - it takes a man to diaper a baby!!

“Tradition does not "allow" women to wear Tefilin or a Talit, because they do not need it.”
The divine 'wings' are said to have the power to protect our divine souls and guard us against evil. Since when is man allowed to go against G-d's command? 'All of the Children of Israel' is further clarified in the Talmud concerning the tzitzit, “G-D commanded all the Children of Israel--Kohenim, Leviyyim, Yisraelim, converts, women and slaves.”
(Tractate Menachot 643a)

Interesting question.

In a world of cloned women, and no men, would the halachah change such that women would lay tefillin?

Or would laying tefillin become irrelevant?

Hard to say.

Rabbi Tzvi said,

In Torah, a woman has every obligation of a man, and a man every obligation of a woman. Torah doesn't know of man and woman as separate beings. They are a single whole, whether they are cognizant of one another or not. Each act is performed once through a single body. A body that in our world may appear as two, but to the Torah is seen as one. This is actually a statement of Rabbi Isaac Luria, the greatest of the kaballists, who explains that the man and woman are a single body--and that is how they are considered in halacha, as well. So, for example, a woman also puts on tefillin--only that she puts them on with her male body. If everything is working right, that should be her husband.

So said Rabbi Tzvi. But as a widow with no husband, how does she "put on tefillin with her male body"? The remarks of Anonymous are not in consonance with Rabbi Tzvi's presentation. Let's hear what Rabbi Tzvi says