Gender Wars - Scott Butler

1.) Do the gender wars exist? Why or why not?

Gender Wars is a very abstract term, while it could be interpreted as a fight to the top in the workplace, it could also be understood in everyday life in the family, and even with your friends. I agree with many of the other posts when they state that it is not so much about "gender wars" but more as attempting to understand the opposite sex, and more importantly their communication style. I feel as if many people interpret the word more literally such as battle to the top of the workplace. The discussion of advancement in the workplace is many times based on gender, and has been a touchy subject for many years.

The way I was raised I was taught that men and women are equal when it comes to the workplace, as well as everyday life. Although this is mostly true I also grew up in a very small town in western Nebraska, a very conservative and orthodox lifestyle. The father of the household held the more fruitful and providing job while the mother was the more, as Lakoff would put it, nurturant parent in the household. The father tended to more of the discipline aspect of the household in a very strict manner.

The way it is used as a metaphor is completely irrelevant to how it is comprehended by most. Yes, the manner of the discourse that surrounds the material is important. Also the more that we study and observe, the more that can be learned. I believe that most women recieve equal treatment as their male counterpart, but I can also empathize with their understanding of not being treated equally.