Is it wrong for Christians to generalize that men and women are different?

Question

Many many Christians celebrate the differences between the sexes. You can really see this in Christian Women who agree that her husband is the spiritual leader and she is to submit to him, and also from the husbands who truly love their wives.

We get a LOT of argument in this regard from athiests/agnostics and from feminists, both in my experience (warning! generalization alert) seem to say that men and women are very much the same and should live their lives interchangably: Men are equally good as daycare workers and women can be just as good as soldiers. Many Christians also believe that variations to these generalizations are due to poor rearing, and that is why we are sooo pro-family. We want to raise a healthy society and central to that is staying within our role. Other groups have different ideas about how do do this, right?

I truly believe that this is a central issue between Christians and the rest of the world and understanding it could maybe stop some of the fighting

Darn, wish I'd added this. Christian doctrine certainly does NOT NOT NOT say that women are inferior. Just different.

Answer 1

Good question. I don't know how many people have read the studies that were done about the roles of women and men. They have found that women who work outside the home, along with having children, have a greater chance of severe health problems. The same with men who stay home with the kids instead of going to work. Men and women are mentally and physically different for a reason. Women were meant to be the nurture/homemaking type, while the men were meant to be the hunters/gatherers. They were made this way. It isn't something that is pushed on women, or men. It's just the way it's supposed to be.

I'm not saying that women should give up a career, or not work outside the home, I'm just stating what research has shown.

I do believe that education is a key factor, and should be encouraged for everyone. I do think that women have a right to be whatever they want to be, but there are natural distinctions.

I don't think that men are the absolute power in the family, in fact, in mine my hubby would say that I'm the one with the say so. That's because I'm here all day, and I know the way the house works and doesn't work. But on decisions, we make them together, he puts his feelings in and so do I. We each have a different perspective, so sometimes it's good to hear what each of us has to say about the situation.

Men and woman's brains work different, and because of that, we each have a different perspective. That isn't a bad thing, it's good. The problem comes when one thinks they are right and don't think they have to listen to the other person.

I am pro-family. I do think the family is the center of our communities, and should be taken as such. Kids need to be reared in a loving, functional environment and should be given courtesy and respect. They do need to learn boundaries, and what is right and wrong, and how to respect others. I think that if families were raised with this core values that our world would be better. Also, I think that if families could afford it, mom should stay home and raise the kids. If it's not possible, it's not possible. I can't fault people for having to work to make ends meet. I just think that if kids were raised by their moms, and not by day cares, they would learn a lot more about how to get along in society, and they would learn all the core lessons they need to know to become productive members of society.

Answer 2

The opinions and generalizations that you speak of are common thoughts in the developed parts of the world, where the general populace believes that both sexes are equal. As for the Christians, I don't think i would only look to the Christians. Most, if not all religions believe that men are the head of the household and that includes spiritually. You can go all the way to the 3rd world countries living in the jungles in remote places who have never heard of the bible or any other written religious documents, most of those cultures have beliefs in a higher power. They also believe that men and women are different and each has its own role. Men are hunter/gatherers, women take care of the home and children. men protect, they are the protectors of their families and they do control the spirituality in the households. There must be something to this belief in differences between men and women if it is that apparent even in the remote places on this planet. Maybe we could take a few lessons from those people we in the developed world believe to be underdeveloped. I believe they have a better grasp on how life should be lived than those beliefs that are commonly held with us.

Answer 3

In certain ways, women are different from men. Most women will never be as strong as most men because of our hormones and smaller bodies. Men will probably always make better blacksmiths.
Some other differences- women have a special grace, men have a ruggedness about them. Women can have babies, men cannot.

While they are different, and not equal in every way, they still deserve equal consideration and equal respect. My husband is not my spiritual leader, in fact he is an Atheist. We have a happy marraige.


Edit: you said "We want to raise a healthy society and central to that is staying within our role."

If we don't define ourselves by your Christian roles, things may look a lot different. My husband would never want to limit my roles. Obviously I will have the children, and he will lift heavy things. These are certain biological differences. As far as anything else though, we assign our roles within our family based on our personalities, not our sex.

Answer 4

I think Christians should live as they choose to live, but not try to impose their beliefs on the rest of society. Men and women are different, that is true. But that doesn't mean that they have to play along with the gender roles that religion would impose.

I would very much disagree that it's poor rearing. It's parents teaching their children that they can be, do, and accomplish whatever it is they desire. There is nothing wrong with that.

Again, if you are living happily within your beliefs, that's great. But you don't have the right to impose it on anyone else.

Answer 5

Think about how many marriages have been destroyed because women didn't respect their husbands or husbands didn't love their wives. I am Christian and am no less than my husband. We respect each other an I am allowed to work wherever I like. He is the head of the household but I am not a doormat that has no say in anything. Mutual respect is the key.

Answer 6

Well the bible says that god created man and women and we are created equal people but he has givin us different gifts, like hello to all the femminists out there does a guy give birth um no! And guys are usually stronger and are thre to protect the family ,and moms arew usually more caring but, its been my experience that jesus puts husbands and wives togehter like a puzzle all men and women have variables and are better at one thing than the other and some lack in some places that others dont we all individually have our one strenghts and weaknesses!

Answer 7

Men and women are definitely different. One look at the physical make up of each sex shows that they are different because of the many, many differences that they have physically. Also, emotionally, women are much different than men because, for the most part anyways, they are more willing to share their emotions than men are (although there are some men who are not afraid to show their emotions). Therefore, because there are physical and emotional differences between the sexes, men and women are different and need to be treated accordingly.

Answer 8

it is true that men and women are different, it is also true that some men can do what is commonly referred to as a woman's role, and the same goes for the women.

as a christian, my wife and i have shared in both what is called each others roles.
we have both worked interchangeable jobs, and we share our religious beliefs, she gets insights into the bible and shares it with me, and i do the same.
when she had a leadership role in the church I supported her and helped in her ministry, and she did the same for me.
God created men and women as equals, but He also made us different, which is a good thing.
we do believe that the husband is the spiritual leader of the family, but if the husband does not fulfill that role, then the woman needs to step up, and give the family the spiritual leadership that it needs.

Answer 9

I agree that women are different from men...Women got the bumpy bits, and they look better in short skimpy things then men do...In my Opinion anyway...

My wife thinks I look better in short skimpy things, but she also can see the point about women tho...

However, that being said...Men and women are different, but one isn't inferior to the other...Psychologically, they can both deal with most anything, however, there are physical differences in body/muscle mass that can decide suitability for a very few occupations...

Answer 10

Well, good luck on stopping the fighting. One reason for the fighting is precisely because Christianity is pro-family and upholds the idea of gender roles. That idea is anathema to feminists and others who would like to re-make society according to their own preferences. It's also a threat to one-worlders who would like the government be the center of society and culture.