Is strict adherance to gender roles just an excuse to not think?

Question

Yes, Whiner48, you are right. Defining terms is important in setting up a question here. Otherwise people will inject their own ideas and run off on tangents.

I'm sorry I neglected to do that in this case. Still, the answers have been interesting so far.

Answer 1

I think that's right. It's easy to do what you're "supposed" to do, without ever questioning why you're doing it.

Answer 2

the question sounds intelligent and it really is BUT in order to answer the question we need to first clarify a few things.

1. define "strict adherence".

2. define "gender roles"

3. once we have defined both, we need to know what you mean by 'thinking'. What should the person think about? Should the person's thoughts be guided by some kind of "ideal" or "objective" and if so what would the objective be?? or who should be the one to define what the objective should be?

your question seems to be suggesting (and presupposes) that for example, woman are oppressed and therefore should try and think their way out of their oppressive state.

i don't deny the fact that some women both in eastern and western cultures have been and are being abused and mistreated but one important thing to note here is that terms like 'oppression' and 'freedom' have been distorted and misinterpreted so much that some ppl (mostly dumb ppl) would do anything (eg, hurting or leaving their partners for no apparent reason) so that they could 'escape' from their 'oppressive' environment and enjoy their "freedom" as well as obtaining "true happiness" ...yeah...whatever that means.... (sigh)

Answer 3

By the manner of your questioning, I see that you are referring to some passive characteristic of the feminine principle. And that you are seeing it as a negative one, by its being connected to some expected social behavior and role of this present cultural system of ours, something that you feel unpleasant about. Furthermore, this is something that makes you self-limiting and therefore frustrating. I therefore think you belong to the female species, and a desperate one at that.

Well, my dear friend, get yourself out from the manipulations of a paternalistic society. From the early beginnings of society, men have succeeded to distort the truth about the yin-yang principles of the universe and how they must move together in harmony and with intuitive spontaneity.

These principles have been misinterpreted and wrongly understood. From these baseline of misguided interpretations, roles have been wrongly defined and then imposed on a developing civilization, thus creating a distorted culture, while slowly debilitating the true nature of souls in the process. This was not what God wanted. Each individual has a soul that has the right to think, explore and grow to the perfection that one is meant to be.

The feminine-musculine principles are found in every scheme of existence and therefore, not necessarily physical. It is funny to think that until this 3rd millennium, we havent developed much on this realm, just because we have allowed ourselves to be limited by political norms which has become acceptable at this point in time. But it must not be anymore.

When the new air of the 3rd Millennium came in, it brought about the destruction of the old system. The old is little by little crumbling down, whether we like it or not. Each of us must take our part in unveiling the new air of balance, harmony and unity, towards progress and the building of a new kingdom.

Answer 4

What do the two have to do with each other? Women can think just as good as men...yet there are both men and women who have not learned to think at all...in fact it is overwhelming how many
are unable to do so. You have to be taught how to process information, how to think things through, and how to think for yourself.
Unfortunately there has been almost an agenda to eliminate this from our education...starting very young.

And anyone who is foolish enough to think there aren't some differences in our genders....also can't think anything through.
Why do you think standards are changed to accommodate women in many areas.....they just don't publicize it. it is not because of how many brains they have, but how their muscles are made, how much strength they actually have, and how they are able to respond in a crisis.....not how they can think.

Any anyone knows that men do not have built into them the same instincts that women have ...especially to do with their children. Can the men cope? Yes....but not as easily as most women could. Why?

Because God made woman to be a partner for the man...each with qualities, instincts that are strengths to help each other. We are foolish if we ignore this and don't use them to help each other.

But that also takes the ability to think! Not everyone practices that these days!

Answer 5

We have an evolved, distributed group of traits for both sexes. I think using a squishy concept, such as " gender role ", is refusing to think scientifically about the phenomenon under question.

Answer 6

Biology makes men & women different.

Gender is a term that takes this into account.

Societal roles, such as "man as the breadwinner, woman as the homemaker" are different than gender roles & can change & shift based on personal choice.


It's when people try to meddle with the gender roles that things go squirrely.


If women choose to share their feelings, let them do so without guilt.

If men choose to not share their feelings, let them do so without guilt.

Hormones & brain wiring cause different behavioral patterns in men & women & we don't need people stepping in to try & "fix" them.

It's unnatural to try & change what is hard-wired & leads to unhappiness for both men & women.

Do what feels natural. ...& don't let any narrow-mined ideologies try to guilt you out of it.

Answer 7

Yeah I really do think so! Because I think that just because I am a woman it dosent mean that all I am good for is cooking, cleaning, and having children! There is more to me than that! I can do a lot of things that men wouldn't expect that I can!

Answer 8

Absolutely yes!

Answer 9

Breaking from arbitrary gender roles requires independent thought; that, as we all know, can be an arduous task for the narrow-minded.

Answer 10

In some aspects, yes. However if that is truly the person's personality then no.

Answer 11

Just hold the phone here. I strongly believe in gender roles because that's who I am; leave my thinking out of it - please and thank you in advance.