I will attempt to properly tackle two subject matters. If I become confusing, I offer my apologies as the fault will be mine. Bare with me.
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In the case of women, how gender roles are still tight, one would be most inclined to argue this: Women are still expect to be the home-maker, to be meek, take up as little space as possible, and to be of a gentle nature. Wherein restriction upon the female sex was all encompassing, body, soul and mind, now is to the latter. By which I mean, their literal [physical] and mental capabilities.
Women are now able to participate in all manual labor if they can reach the minimum requirements for their job. They can use their mental skills to progress in a corporate, scientific, or the rich literary and artistic world. Their roles, the inner most confines of a woman that lead her to be the “proper caretaker,” however, is still prevalent.
There is a misconception that women are more empathetic. As if to say, that because they possess ovaries that they feel more than man, and consequentially are less prone to control these feelings. While the latter statement is so, it has to do with breeding, and nothing whatsoever with internal sexual organs. Wherein also plays in the double standards. Where women are expected to be the gentler, more compassionate sex and are raised to be so, so as to rear children, they are expected to accomplish that of what a man can. That is, in short, be a hard worker, albeit physical or mental, and to excel while still being the matronly figure.
In this, society has become far more prone to be sever on the male sex. The double standard for men is that they are expected to be many things: the bread winner, the muscle of the house, the one that fixes the busted pipes and puts together the furniture [and neglect all instructions, of course]. Then, when all that is said and done, to be “sensitive” and more “compassionate.”
However, when a man cries, is he not a sissy? When a father wants to stay at home and raise his children, because his wife makes more money and has better benefits but they crave to have a solid, always-present-parent, is he not considered effeminate? The word itself, effeminate, is so derogatory that the slightest whisper of it while placed with the male sex that it has become a societal taboo.
The greatest shame of feminism is the fight to be equal to men, yet the threads have not woven around the counterpart of the very statement of "equal." Men are not allowed to be equal to a women. Even when women fought tooth and nail for equality, the men that put forth so many efforts to liberate women are often forgotten in the movement for women’s rights.
Is it not the compassion and open mind of men that had to move, to change, to allow the “weaker sex,” their beloved counterparts, a movement at all? Was not the fight against slavery in the hands of everyone but the slaves? Did it not rest on those who were moved so deeply by the inhumane treatment of, not another race, but their fellow man that fought against it? Was it not those in the higher power that had to listen to give a voice to those oppressed?
It seems we, as a society, are quick to forget the compassion of those that fought oppression and ill-treatment along side, if not in a way, for the less fortunate.
Women and men are no different. Our motherly fathers are ridiculed and looked down on, considered gay, un-masculine, without work, or “whipped.” If a man cries openly, he’s laughed at, women will avoid him [because then of course, he’s too sensitive. Right?], and he losses his place within social structure of being powerful. Of being a man.
On an ending note: Transvestites. The psychological definition is that of a man that dresses in women’s clothing for sexual pleasure. A common misconception is that these men, drag queens and all, are homosexual, when in fact few are. On the note of sexual gratification: Perhaps it’s because women’s clothes are doused with lace and silks, and heels sexy and demanding. How would that differ from a fetish from leather? On the side of social gratification -as transvestites often dress as women in private to hide it from their wives, girlfriends and so on- there is this: If gender restriction for male dress code was not so strict [as women can ware male clothing and not be spared a second glance], would the term Transvestite exist, as the idea and action of it would be of no consequence and not infected with abnormality?
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I beg pardon for my articulation if I have left you confounded at any point.
“There is a misconception that women are more empathetic. As if to say, that because they possess ovaries that they feel more than man, and consequentially are less prone to control these feelings.” I like how you say that because I feel like that is one of the biggest misconceptions about women and I also liked how you touched on males taking on the females role, even though I do agree with what you say I feel like many males are now taking on the role that most women do, including dishes, cleaning, and helping with other thing (such as kids i.e.) with firsthand experience of it, it makes me more inclined to believe that our society is progressing and the pressure to be a “man” is no longer so strong on males and for a man to take on more feminine responsibilities are now accepted. Of course there is a stopping point to that, I believe it is accepted to the point to which I discussed, not to the point of males dressing up as females, which you discussed in your last paragraph which hopefully will soon change because I agree with you on what your stand is about it :).
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