Why are traditional views looked down upon?

Question

How many people in traditional roles really feel like socioty really forced them to do so? Isnt the large majority of the modern world able to make their own decisions? Why are those decisions and opinions discriminated against?

Take most of my anwsers for example.

byproxy-
I see you did your research, like I told the person who asked that question to do. Did a teacher help you learn how to do that...perhaps they help teach you how to read?
But thanks for correcting my statement.

You idea of emotional strength vs. emotional intelligence is a personal one.

If you did you research on men's and women's muscle fibers you would know that this is true. Perhaps this is why you cited no sources.

Gnu-
You are right, I probably have not been discriminated against, rather than just feel attacked for my choices and views.

Conor-
My husband and I live by fairly traditional values, but he does not treat me as inferior and I do not treat him as superior. We both contribute to our marriage in an equal manner.

Shadowed, traditional does not mean subservient.

Sarah- 50 years ago (the 50's) both of my grandmothers were teaching. You defended tradition as the 50's. I am doing what my grandmothers were doing...how is this then, not traditional?

Violinist-
I agree wth you but it does not comfort me. It would comfort me if these women did not have children, yes. Because thousands of studies have showen the benifits to a two parent house hold. But it does not comfort me to know that others ar being discriminated against as well.

Answer 1

Many of the ideologies of the modern West, epitomized by Modernism as a while, believe that progress can only happen by overthrowing tradition. (I actually believe we see further by standing on the shoulders of giants and that we must always build on the past rather than tearing it down.) So, such people must oppose people's preferences for tradition, even when no one is harmed.

But while opposing their rhetoric, you've succumbed to it. By using "discrimination" to describe criticism, you're falling into the feminist trap of thinking that we should lump together things like differences of opinion, different values being expressed, etc., with egregious things like preventing people from getting an education, employment, healthcare, or being able to vote.

Feminists aren't "discriminated against" by people liking to see scantily clad women and you aren't 'discriminated against" by being ridiculed for having traditional values.

Discrimination is serious business and none of us should cheapen it by using it when we get our feelings hurt.

EDIT

I appreciated your taking my criticism in the spirit it was intended, especially since I do agree with the sentiment you're expressing. Thanks.

EDIT

I don't know who Sarah is addressing re: personal anecdotes and grandmothers, though I suspect she is referring to remarks I've made elsewhere. She's setting up a strawman. I never claimed that women were not discriminated against and denied opportunities, not would I ever suppose that an anecdote refuted such a point. I have denied certain pictures presented by other posters of ALL women being downtrodden and having NO opportunities. But naturally, it's easier for Sarah to go for the cheap shot.

BTW, my grandmother translated Russian for the Library of Congress. My GREAT grandmother was a schoolteacher for a time but then was an office administrator with the Social Security Administration.

Answer 2

What about most of your answers? You didn't explain what you're talking about.

Where are you seeing discrimination?

There's the sense of discriminating a good idea from a bad one, which is a GOOD thing; discriminating against a person based on some irrelevant characteristic is something else entirely.

What was wrong with traditional roles is that many people did feel forced into them, and really hated it; they were preventing from doing things that would have made them happier to do.

That's why they have since been rejected: What's being rejected is not people's choices, but the idea that people shouldn't have any choice in how they live their lives. That's what the traditional view said: No woman should be able to do anything except "take care of" the home, husband, and kids.

People who still say this are wrong; people hate them because they hate people telling them how to live their lives.

If you want to stay home, and you can afford it (most families can't), then no one is saying you have to get an outside job.

But when you say that no woman should ever be allowed to do anything with their lives except stay home, you're trying to dictate to others.

When you say that no father should ever be allowed to take care of the kids, you're trying to dictate to others.

Saying that, on the one hand, you want to do what you want with YOUR life, but no one else should be allowed choice about their lives is exactly what was wrong with the traditional view.

Answer 3

I bet there's the change, in step with feminists, that for those who CHOOSE to reside a conventional so-known as "ball and chain" subculture, you are a idiot, while females within the Middle East have little or no option. Extreme feminism is an excessively, very dangerous factor in my view. Being a girl, I'm comfortable to an volume that I have the option of operating to be had to me, however then again I do not think like I will have to be ridiculed for staying dwelling and watching after my accomplice, which occurs plenty.

Answer 4

I look down upon traditional views IF those who are living by those views did not have the choice. I am a feminist, and have total equality with my husband (I wouldn't waste my time on a relationship that was not equal, no matter how much I "loved" the man). However, I also plan to follow in my grandmother's footsteps and choose to contribute to my family mainly from home. I currently work, and will continue to do so until we have children. But I have very specific ideas about how to raise our children, and it would be much more difficult to do so if I am working outside the home.

On the other hand, if my husband were the kind of man who came along and decided that I would be a stay at home mom, and that I should be keeping the house clean a certain way, etc...well, he wouldn't have the opportunity to finish the sentence before the slamming of the door. If it's not MY decision, it ain't happening. (Same with my husband - his life = his decision.)

Answer 5

i am a feminist and i have friends who are stay-at-home moms. they still call themselves feminists. stay-at-home moms are a traditional role, however, the difference is today it is a choice, it is not something thrust upon us.

if it were thrust upon me, i would rebel. as women have done in the past.

if anyone chooses to stay at home or take on any other traditional role - so be it. the point being, we don't all want to do the same thing.

people may discriminate against these traditional roles but they also discriminate against progressive roles - marrying late, not having kids, etc.

men don't face the work or raise family dilemma. they do face a bit of ridicule if they choose to stay at home b/c society is not used to that idea yet.

in western countries, we have choices. in many developing countries, women don't have a choice.

not having economic options is a leading factor in poverty - that's why 70% of the world's poor are women. and it explains why this situation can do more harm than good to us.

if its your choice and you feel you have a secure future - bless you - for women who don't have a choice or don't have any guarantee that a husband will provide for them (husbands die, divorce and leave wives), god help them.

Answer 6

There are a host of reasons why people have problems with traditional views. Some of them are probably justified, and some are not.
The major unjustified reason is that most people are slaves to fashion, whether those are fashions concerning clothes, diet, culture, etc, and it is currently in vogue to think that women should work and be “liberated”. This is an offshoot of the notion that men and women are basically the same and that there is some cabal of men who have decided to enslave women. So anytime women engage in traditional roles, they are castigated for being pawns of men.
While there may be some truth to the notion that there are external factors acting to keep women in their place, there are many cases where women actually want to stay home and engage in many traditional activities. Being a mother and home economist is noble and takes a talent and energy that many people can’t muster.
This also hints at the justification for being against traditional views. Sometimes women and men are just the pawns of traditional power structures, be it religion or society, and the best excuse some people can muster for this is “because that’s the way it’s always been done.” Tradition for tradition’s sake. Because someone said so, or the Bible or Koran says so. We live in a society that is suspicious of authority, and “just because” doesn’t cut it anymore.

Answer 7

Many people see housewives as "lazy".

Many people link tradition to times where these traditions were forced, where men were superior and women were inferior and property. People tend to associate tradition with sexism. Personally I'm fine with tradition, assuming that it's chosen.

But if it comforts you at all, I've seen women that choose not to marry or choose not to have children get looked down upon just as much as those that choose to follow more traditional roles.

Answer 8

Traditional values are such that there is a superior and inferior position. Women have been considered not as good as men that is why they want to move past that. If you can change the values so all people are considered equal then great. Traditional doesn't value those who don't follow Christianity either so there is a whole other argument.

Answer 9

Because we do not live in a "traditional" world anymore. These decisions are discriminated against because no one (except psycho people) think that women should be sumbmissive and the husbands rule over the house or that a woman cannot get a job because she has to be a housewife. And also because in order to make it in this world, both partners need to have a job.

Answer 10

Because some people are under the impression that the "new ways" should entirely replace the "old ways." You are free to choose, as long as they fit under the definitions of "their ways"...talk about freedom of choice...LOL

Certain traditions became traditions for a reason. It's good to broaden our views and look for improvements, but not all traditions are based on oppression and control. Some of them are there because they work! I can buy as much modern microwave dinner as my wallet allows, but I'm still going to prefer my grandma's cooking. Why would I want to deprive my kids and family from passing on her cooking skills and replace it with modern TV dinner? I gladly warm up my home cooked meal in the new microwave and combine both worlds...but I'm not limiting and isolating myself to one way of living....and it's really sad if I have to, once again, fight for my right to choose.