Gender Roles

[BienvenuJDC]

Gender roles for all!

Or if that doesn't suit you. . . .

Gender roles for none!

Or if that doesn't suit you. . . .

Gender roles for some and no gender roles for others!

You get an A+ for decisiveness...

[dizzydoll]

And what of women holding doors for women and men holding doors for men? I'd much rather see people showing this level on consideration to eathother regardless of gender.

I dont know what you are talking about, this happens already.. I see it all over the place, businessmen opening doors for other men... women opening doors for all. I think your comment is just argumentative. I agree with motherhubbard, we want to see more gentlemen around. Less selfishness would make the world rock.

[Revolte]

I dont know what you are talking about, this happens already.. I see it all over the place, businessmen opening doors for other men... women opening doors for all. I think your comment is just argumentative. I agree with motherhubbard, we want to see more gentlemen around. Less selfishness would make the world rock.

I agree, I hold the door open for people all the time, men and women, kids and elders it doesn't matter. I strongly believe random acts of kindness like that could make the world such a better place if more people would be like that. Smile at people now and then, of course they are wierded out by it no one ever does it! Blah, I hate how dry and anti-social culture is, around here anyway, I say treat everyone with the greatest respect, it makes a difference in the long run. Almost no one has ever done something like hold the door open for me, but a few months ago, I just got my heart broken and I was really down and lost almost all of what was left of my respect for people. I go to the store to buy some smokes and when I was leaving this girl held the door open for me, turned and looked at me, and smiled. It made a huge difference on my outlook that day and I won't ever forget it.

as for gender roles, no such thing, never has been. It's easy for the boys at the top or majority to say a person serves any set role, but in the end they don't. Men should do what men want to do, Women should do what women want to do. I personaly don't like the idea of being with a girl who will do my chores herself, I would much rather do it myself and hers for her. I think its plain stupid to expect something out of some one just because of their sex. Hey if you want to be with a lady who is willing to do all your surviving for you ( cooking n what not ) whatever thats your choice, but I feel sorry for the lady for not having the balls to step up and refuse, or to at least keep herself away from guys like that. I see too much of it and it's disturbing. Of course if the lady wishes to do that, then hey fine thats her choice, if she enjoys it thats awsome. It can be the other way around too of course, I was in a pretty controlling relationship for two years and yeah.. but thats aside the point.

gender roles, gibberish.

[janesmith]

Gender roles are inevitable and perfectly acceptable as long as we acknowledge the fluidity of gender and sexuality. Gender stereotyping is what we should aim to avoid.

[OrphanPip]

I've known a couple trans people, but gender identity isn't really the same as gender roles. You can still identify with the male gender without conforming to conventional male gender roles. Gender roles has more to do with societal perception of how people should behave, while gender identity is a personal subjective sense of how one fits into gender definitions.

[Scheherazade]

Gender roles has more to do with societal perception of how people should behave, while gender identity is a personal subjective sense of how one fits into gender definitions.

This is a good point, I think.

I think we all need to acknowledge the fact that "roles" have been changing; however, are they obsolete today? Not needed anymore?

If that is the case, how does/will affect our society? For example, children will not need both parents anymore since one parent can act both as mom and dad?

[soundofmusic]

I've lived for 55 years in the South; and while I have seen men and women change their hair styles and clothing to look unisex; I don't see that much has changed regarding others perceptions. Neither does it change what we are capable of doing. Womens rights has not made it any easier for me to pull the starter on a lawnmower. Older women are still considered ridiculous when they have a young man on their arm; while a man is considered a player. Even rich, powerful women like Oprah Winfrey are considered losers if they are not in a relationship. Two women or two men raising a child is not considered, by most, a viable alternative to opposite gender parents...Has anything really changed?

[Revolte]

If that is the case, how does/will affect our society? For example, children will not need both parents anymore since one parent can act both mom and dad?

I was raised by my mom and it worked out best for me. my dad wasnt around much, though were cool now, it wasnt the case when I was younger. Kids don't need both parents.

[motherhubbard]

I was raised by my mom and it worked out best for me. my dad wasnt around much, though were cool now, it wasnt the case when I was younger. Kids don't need both parents.

I think kids can turn out fine without both parents, but I still think they need both. And, the parents need eachother. Nobody ever talks about how much easier it is when there are two. I could raise my children without my husband and we would all keep making it, but I hate to think of the toll it would take on me and my kids. Of course, I understand that there are some people who are not fit parents and in those situations it may be easier on the one if the other isn't there to have to deal with.

[TurquoiseSunset]

I don't think gender roles disappear they just change with culture and time. I think in Western society they have become broader and more accommodating, but they're still there. We still expect women and men to act within certain parameters.

I think that's about right. Gender roles exist, but are mutable with varying conditions. I would add circumstance as well to culture and time to O-P's statement. I think people trapped on a deserted island (a bit of a cliche, I know) are going to gravitate to fundemental male and female roles. A warrior society dictates certain roles while that same society settled into an extended period of peace will have other roles.

I agree with both of you.
Like OrphanPip said, there will always be gender roles, and that's okay, as long as they are not strictly enforced. Gender roles are natural because women and men are different biologically and therefore we go about things differently.

All of this also brings up the issue of equality vs. gender roles. I personally think (flexible) gender roles can exist in harmony with equality, while some think if you truely want to be equal you have to let the gender roles go...which I think is impossible. So, that essentially means that if you work in a male dominated industry you will be treated like man, and vice versa. That's not right in my opinion.

Does any of that makes sense? I know what I'm trying to say, but I'm not sure I'm expressing myself very well

[dizzydoll]

That's not right in my opinion.

You make perfect sense and I agree with you. There are men who sell ladies underwear and we shouldnt expect them to wear Victoria Secrets for example. lol.

[ktm5124]

As long as women are the ones giving birth to babies, there's a difference that we can't get rid of ;-) Mothers will always have a different relationship with their children because they will share an experience with the child that the father cannot intrude on - that of rearing the baby inside the womb, being of one and the same body. And then there are other experiences to which only the mother will be privileged - breastfeeding, for one. The mother will always have a more intimate physical connection with the child. A person cannot play both mother and father; these are roles of sex, not gender.

[Indyben]

I hate it when people give other people certain "roles" because of their sex. To me it seems archaic to have the stay-at-home mum while the husband goes out and does the work. We have equal opportunities for a reason, and that's because people realised that the gender roles of the time where unfair, so we had the protesters like the Suffraggetes and Women's Lib, and more power to them! However it sucks to see that a lot of people still think that men should be more dominent and women submissive. I would consider myself a male female rights activist lol. This is not a reply to any posts on this thread, I'm just having my two cents.

[Scheherazade]

The OP:

Do you think gender roles are still relevant or necessary?

How do they affect us?

[Revolte]

Gender roles are silly, don't you think?

What if I told you, your soul purpose is to wash my clothes, even though I have the ability to do so just fine. But it's your place, you have no rights outside of what I allow.

I own you, you are my property.

And I, as a man, serve the purpose of ownership. I am the leader, the king, the hunter. I bring the profit so that you can live by my rule, and be thankful about it. Surely you would burn if not for my compassion.


Yea, I feel sorry for the people who take that crap seriously. And I've heard it. It's the worst kind of defeat.