Do you agree or disagree with the following quote...?

Question

'Men have always been afraid that women could get along without them.'
-Margaret Mead

Answer 1

Yes because most men cannot live without women, but many women can live quite well without men. It's a bit like children. They can live without a father, but not so well without a mother. In societies were there is shortage of women there is a lot of male violence and internal wars. China with the killing of millions of baby girls is particucarly worried about its future because many times in its history during periods of shortage of women the country has been recked by violence caused by bands of single men on the rampage.

Answer 2

Why should I agree or disagree with it? It seems to me that almost all humans are afraid that other humans could get along without them, regardless of gender, color, religion, etc... So, in one respect I agree with her, however, I go a step farther than she to say the same of the reverse. Human egos are always trying to make one group of others seem dependent upon them, while denying that one of the many truths of life is: We need each other. It's reciprocal.

I think older cultures were aware of this before the religious revolutions which have and are currently sweeping the globe came to power in our various societies. The Celts, for instance had a long tradition of women, as well as men who held knowledge as bards or hags, preists and preistesses, and warriors of both genders. I think the Abrahimic Religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) many Mediterranean Religions/Societies, and even the more modern cultures of Asia put a lot of restrictions upon women unfairly. WE are all in this crap together. Only as a united and concerted effort will WE survive.

Answer 3

I don't know the men that Margaret Mead knew. Perhaps in her world, she's right.

But she clearly didn't meet very many men, 'cause her generalization is wrong.

Note to AMP: Single women outlive married women because married women are more likely to have babies, which contribute to higher mortality rates. Equalize mortality caused by childbirth and related complications, and married women live longer than single women. In other words, men AND women live longer with partners.

Answer 4

Hmmm... I would say that, at least in many cases, that is true, but I would also say that the opposite is true.

Men like to think of themselves (generally) as independent and autonomous, not needing anyone to care for them because they can care for themselves. They regard themselves as the stronger sex, and believe that women would be at a serious disadvantage without them. They are often intimidated by independent women who very clearly do not need a man to provide for them in any way, including to make them happy.

However, this is also true in reverse. Women are generally not the weak creatures that many men think they are, but they do like to do what they feel men cannot do adequately for themselves. When a woman sees a man trying to take care of himself without a woman, she often sees a void- it seems as though the man would be better off with a woman, and when a man says that he is perfectly happy on his own, many women will think that he is either lying or in denial, because this cannot possibly be true.

I think that it is foolish to deny that men and women are different, and while either sex can get along perfectly well without the other (except for the procreation part), the two sexes seem to compliment each other in a way that makes it better for them not to try to remain separate from one another.

**Note: I realize that all of the above are broad generalizations. There are many exceptions, but this is how it seems to be for the most part.

Answer 5

For the most part yes.

For centuries the man has been the provider, protector, wage earner, decision maker and more in the family. Women were not allowed to vote, hold property, earn a wage and many were not allowed to go to school unless they were from the aristocracy.

In 1848 the first convention for Women's rights was held in New York. Men fought against it. In 1893 Colorado was the first state to grant women the right to vote. This changed how women behaved and lived and started a new era on woman's liberation movements.

Men have been used to women, cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children and household matters. Now days, men realize that women are a lot more independent and realize that we don't need a man to support us like our ancestors did.

Men need women for the comforts of home and family and women need men ............well most women I talk to said they miss having a man around to do the "fix it" stuff and nothing more.

Answer 6

Hm... let me think of the proper misogynist counter to such a feminist statement. I think Samuel Butler will do: "Brigands will demand your money or your life, but a woman will demand both."

Now me... I'm neither a mysogynist nor a feminist. I'm a biologist.

And as I biologist I can tell you that it would be difficult to draw a line and say everyone on one side was female and everything on the other is male. There are too many odd cases that fall in the middle. And if you can't even concretely define what a male or a female IS, it seems kind of foolish to start generalizing about their characteristics.

But that's me.

Answer 7

Aside from the whole human race being afraid of not being
essential to something,JCI (Judeo/Christian/Islam) teachings
have for a long time brainwashed men into believing that
men are essential and that anything diferent is to be
feared and attacked.Other theologies have supported the
same idealogy but JCI leads the dogma in fanaticism.
I'm personally used to capable women and believe in
gender equality,but I know the collective human race has
a long way to go before there is real equality.

Doc

Answer 8

I disagree,it is too general a quote of Men and Women

Answer 9

Hmm...

This one makes you think a bit....
i would say yes i agree with it. because men always want to do things on their own without any help. But, if the WOMEN want to do it all on their own, then the men will always try to help. The men want to be the dominant ones in the household. If the women don't accept their help, then the men get irritated and hurt. They are afraid that "women could get along without them" and survive.

That's just my opinion...

Boy, that DOES make you think!!

Answer 10

I think it's rather biased towards men acting sexist, as already said it's too general. Of course, some men would be afraid of that, but many wouldn't.

Answer 11

yes. this is why men oppress women. not all, but many insecure men want to control women. they do this by denigrating them, keeping their self esteem low.
if men were not so intimidated by women, they would have given women the right to vote a long time ago and equal pay.
better for the women to have less rights so that they are bound to you. you can control , manipulate , use and exploit them more of their position is weak. read my question regarding downgrading women in society. no one has answered it.
i guess the truth hurts too much no one wants to touch the topic