It is hard to argue that the “Gender Wars” do not exist, when it “Wars” is used in the context of differences between the genders and men and women are obviously different. A pink crayon is different than a blue crayon, even if they are both crayons, both made and used the same way. I think that the issue people have with gender differences is not a question of whether they exist or not, but rather an issue of discrimination. I will readily admit that there is a discrepancy between the number of women versus men in the workplace and in the average pay each receives (among others). I also think that the gap between the two will continue to diminish as the number of opportunities continues to increase, but one commonality in human cultures around the world is a resistance to change. In America (and continuing back to its European origins), the white male has dominated as the status quo for centuries. Whether or not that is right, it is true. It takes a long time to build “tradition,” but it takes even longer to change it. I think that the issues with gender differences are due to impatience with this change. I believe that a majority of women still want to be treated differently than men (I don’t talk to my girlfriend the same way I talk to my best (male) friend or I’d probably get slapped), but I do believe that a majority want equality versus discrimination.
I will admit that, being a white heterosexual male and being from a small town in the Mid-West, I have been shielded from dealing with a majority of the issues the country faces. My town was only ever home to one African-American and my school only educated one homosexual male during my entire jr. high and high school careers. Gender differences are accepted as a norm and are not an issue. If a female works or stays home with the kids, it makes no difference so long as she contributes to the betterment of her family or of society in general. You don’t ever hit women but you don’t wanna piss ‘em off either. It is generally accepted in that farming-based community that women are different than men (though not easier to understand), yet the same was expected of them as was the rest of the men, at least in my family.
I see the term “Wars” as a book selling title, more or less. As I stated earlier, I may have been shielded by some of the main issues surrounding the use of this term, but the idea of women’s equality has really only been around (or gained momentum) for a short period of time and when introducing change, society feels threatened and more time is required to get from competitiveness to acceptance. Perhaps if I belonged to a different social category, I would demand change much more readily. But even our chosen system of government takes an overabundance of time to get anything of mean accomplished. Women and men may be more similar than different in many ways, but they are still different. To me, wars, in this context, means differences for a majority of the members of society that I was raised in.
Do you think that the acceptance of gender differences is beneficial or harmful to society?
If gender differences are to be eradicated from society, how much of an effect to you think this will have on generally accepted “traditional” views. Right now, even a respectful guy will hit another male, if only to defend the respect of someone he cares about but should not ever hit a woman. Does eliminating gender roles also eliminate this type attitude towards women? Is that okay? Or do you want balance somewhere?
You pose a great question with regards to violence towards women. I can't imagine a point in time when women are seen as such equals that it becomes ok to beat the hell out of them if they spill a drink on you, or perhaps talk bad about your mama. But I suppose Ben Franklin didn't ever think that women would be allowed to vote. Whose to say what our future holds?
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