Gender Roles

[Gaybaby94]

What do you guys think about it?

Personally I hate it because it prevents me from being myself and it prevents people from being themselves ( i.e. cross-dressing)

[kenoloor]

I wrote a whole persuasive essay on why gender roles in society are harmful for children who are developing an identity for themselves. And I entirely support that idea. If children are taught that men are supposed to do certain things, and women are supposed to do other things, how can we expect to attain equality in society?

If people conform to these roles, I have no problem. But if the media/society says that gender roles are a strict template for how every human should be living, then I have an issue with it.

[Jess]

I wrote a whole persuasive essay on why gender roles in society are harmful for children who are developing an identity for themselves. And I entirely support that idea. If children are taught that men are supposed to do certain things, and women are supposed to do other things, how can we expect to attain equality in society?

If people conform to these roles, I have no problem. But if the media/society says that gender roles are a strict template for how every human should be living, then I have an issue with it.

this pretty much sums up my thoughts as well.

[UnknownError]

My friend was shopping with her nephew and they were looking for a toy. They couldn't find it in the boys section and then they found it in the girls section, and they tried to make him get something else but he only wanted the original thing, and they were all freaked out because he wanted something the shops had labelled as for girls. I thought that situation was entirely wrong. People can do what they want, wear what they want, use what they want and be who they want. If it isnt doing any harm to anyone then why not?

[TheMatrix]

Personally, I do not have an opinion on them.
Although you can debate the morals of it, this is not something that we [the people of the human race] can ever fully accomplish. Gender roles have been in place since the very beginning -- starting around the time of the hunter-gatherers -- and will therefore not change anytime soon.

[Jean Poutine]

I wear female pajamas because I like the bright colors and the cute designs (my current pants have little polar bears) over male pajamas that are always so drab.

[Syvelocin]

I've got no issue with my sex myself, I'm quite content with being a girl. However, I only let that go as far as my physical identity. I believe in balance in everything, happiness and sadness, dark and light, good and evil, and male and female. I think there's an equal masculine and feminine influence in most everything at the same time. So as far as gender identity, I believe we are both and neither. Of course, gender roles will always be in play, and I don't mind them by themselves, but when people stereotype or hold others by those gender roles, then I do have a problem of course. And yeah, gender roles are incredibly detrimental to children. I don't understand people who teach their children that boys are one way and girls are the other. Sure, it'll save them some ridicule, but it's sad when children grow up and they're everything they're not just because they were told to be that way.

You can't let it prevent you from being yourself though. It's one thing to have to deal with the ridicule, but it's another entirely to let the ridicule beat you. As hard as it gets.

I wear female pajamas because I like the bright colors and the cute designs (my current pants have little polar bears) over male pajamas that are always so drab.

Hmm, I wear Some male/unisex clothing myself. The fit of some things like t-shirts and yeah, pyjamas, just look a lot better on me in my opinion. My style is... *sigh* more girlie but I've still got a good amount of male/unisex clothing. It's also hard when you are wearing clothes that were made for curves when you flat-out don't have them.

[Buranri]

Gender roles have a definite purpose, and I think at least some form is good. I mean... Wasn't there a couple in Canada raising there child without a gender? That's just crazy. Obviously saying "you're a boy, you can't do this or wear this" is bad, but some structure is good.

[Unique Physique]

I was a tomboy growing up and I was always irked with little things, such as people automatically assuming that since I was a girl I liked girly things, in fact, even if they knew I was a tomboy. A prime example was when I was leaving nursery, I was given a Barbie doll as a present, despite the fact they knew I didn't like stuff like that.. and birthday/christmas presents.. or those McDonalds Happy Meal toys when they were sometimes different for boys and girls, once, I think it was Action Man and My Little Pony or some shite like that.

I think parents and others shouldn't just assume their kids will conform to the role of their gender. Why not actually ask their kids what they would prefer..

Thankfully, my parents at least always understood this. And no I haven't grown up to have sexuality/gender identity issues, most tomboys (and whatever the male equivalent is called) don't.