Gender differences
By Amy
@artemis432 (7474)
Abernathy, Texas
April 26, 2009 12:21am CST
Are you everything "girl" or everything "boy" (please read man or woman for the politically correct). Or are you something in between? Were you a tom girl? Are you a boy who likes to spend a lot of time with on your hair, clothes and appearance?
I guess I think of myself as very girly but I like to think of myself as strong too - a trait typically thought of as a masculine trait. Which some would consider silly considering child birth.
Other then that, I speak in a soft voice, have long hair, enjoy dresses. My sister in law on the other hand embraces both sides - she takes time to straighten her hair (something I wouldn't take the time to do), wears makeup, jewelery and gets her nails done. She avoids dresses and her entire family is very sports oriented
Did you ever wonder how these gender roles came into being? Someone one - or a group of people must of come up with it. Dresses at one time were normal for men and women in many cultures. Dashikis (phonetic spelling) is still normal dress for some. Think of kilts or the long tunics worn in India. Men used to, in a few periods of history wore wigs and makeup and very feminine looking clothes and jewelery - thought today as foppish. Someone, somewhere along the way, decided that women wear the dresses and men the pants. I know its illogical but this has been so ingrained in me that when I see a man in dress and makeup, my mind says its wrong even though my deeper intelligence says this is ridiculous. And hey, we women wear pants - once thought only a man's clothes. And do you know there are some men who are even more beautiful then women without makeup and with makeup over the top beautiful. I think a lot of men resent this because they're attracted until they find out the truth and then they still might be attracted but the denial pisses them off!
If things had worked out the other way around, and men wound up wearing the dresses and the makeup and all of that, I think I would definitely rebel and wear dresses anyway! I love dresses and long hair. Despite the fact that society would say this was wrong.
Where do you stand, do you think we should follow society's rules no matter what our chosen style is, no matter how we feel inside - and if so - if things were different - would - if you're a female - would you want to wear dresses anyway? Do you think we should only have traits of one that society thinks our gender should hold? Do you have a mix?
2 people like this
8 responses
@amitksing (1323)
• India
26 Apr 09
I believe the "All Women" or "All Men" things came into existence due to some logical reasons. As for dresses, we can see that dressing depends upon the physical made. In earlier times, men used to dress so as to cover their genitals, the cloths on the upper part came into existence due to weather conditions. For women, they used cloths to cover both their feminine organs.
Coming to later ages, till 18th century, men and women both used cloths like skirts. But with time, pants/trousers came into existence and became very popular with working people. Since only men used to be the ones working out those days, these cloths were restricted to men only. These days, we can find even women trying the outfits that traditionally only men used to use!
As for me, I like using things whatever I feel make me look good, it doesn't depend upon for whom it is meant to, or what class of people use it!
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Apr 09
Pants can cover genitals as well as dresses so that doesn't really answer the women only wear dresses.
Great deductions though. And even if it were for practical reasons - er logical - insisting on that now, as many do is rather illogical. By that logic, men not in working class - but leisure class - should have remained in dresses. There are still men who think there is something wrong with women who wear pants or suits and vice versa. If women can wear pants, why not have a man in a skirt. Especially if they're not working in an industry where pants are necessary.
Not that I don't look askance at men in dresses, but only because its been ingrained that its wrong. So as for my questions - if it were the other way around - if women were the pants wearers - if like lions the women did the work - went hunting, protected the family maybe - or if that were just the way of things and men wore dresses - would you rebel against society and wear - I'm not sure if you're a man or a woman - have to look at your profile - the opposite of what your gender should?
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Apr 09
Oh and I like that you say that as things stand now - you wear what you want to!
@amitksing (1323)
• India
26 Apr 09
My point is, it started that way, and people kept on following things this way from generation to generation. This is the most logical reason that I can see.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
17 May 09
I was born a tom boy. I hate dresses. The only dress I would Have to wear is a wedding gown and it would symbolize my lost of freedom. I love sports. I had both dolls and trucks but I loved to throw my dolls sown the stairs.I prefered to play outside and dig upi worms than play dress up or house.I love sports , In fact my favorite is hockey.Why? it is tougher than football.I think people are all differentand you should get to do and enjoy what they like.
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
27 Apr 09
Interesting discussion. I balk at gender roles. I am a biologist--typically thought of as a man's field. But I am also a teacher, typically thought of as a woman's field. I can and do look good in dresses/skirts. I am not terribly comfortable in them so I will wear jeans most of the time. I have done the long hair quiet thing before. Now I am loud, confident more like a man and I cut my hair. I do usually wear make-up but on the other hand I am a big football fan and watch professional football every Sunday during the season. I think people should be what they want to be no matter the gender role.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
26 Apr 09
I have been a girly girl most of my life....in appearance that is....I have been involved is sports though most of my life until now when I am older and my knees have started to bother me....but I still like golf etc....but emotionally I was part of the girly girl generation too..but after a divorce I became stronger emotionally...have had to make decisions for many people as I had three kids to raise....and I have done some things like home repairs many would think are for men like I can do plumbing...but I learned because my budget didn't allow me to NOT learn! So I love being a woman....but have been what some would consider the more masculine parts too....
@jkatmaou (195)
• Philippines
26 Apr 09
i am a mixture of both gender. i mean, women were not allowed to wear pants before because society thinks it's immodest to have the legs and the lower regions clearly outlined by the pants. but then, it allows as more freedom to move around.
in any case, i firmly believe that society has twisted our views on what and how we should act based on our gender. why restrict men by making them feel wrong about wanting to look really nice? or why make girls feel ashamed when they adit their feelings to a guy they like?
life is not a fairy tale, its not always that men protect and women are in distress. because in the real world, women can protect men far greater than men cn ever protect women. i mean, who keeps you alive in their wombs until you're ready to ome out into the world?
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
26 Apr 09
You make many good points. I especially like your last - we protect them in the womb - and how many men could withstand the pain of childbirth - would take the risk of possibly dieing for their offspring? And we've all heard about how women are like lions (is that the animal) when protecting their kids.
Its true, men and women wore different clothes once upon a time - as I mentioned many men wore dresses - what we think of as dresses now and as you point out, women weren't allowed to wear anything but in many cultures. Even my sister, in her school they didn't allow pants - but one very bitter winter - with a lot of snow, my mom fought for her to be able to wear jeans - underneath.
I'm a mixture too. I love having long hair and wearing dresses, but I don't spend any time with my hair. I wet it every day and wash it every other so it looks pretty but I don't curl or straighten it. I like being strong and speaking softly. Etc.
@tzaddi (395)
• Philippines
26 Apr 09
well i think that because god created men and women, both influenced each other and until now they still are, that's why some of us turn to gays and lesbians, no offense and, let's respect them..there's nothing wrong about that as long as they don't violate the human rule, god rule, and the nature rule..ü cheers to all of us!!ü
@jane1981 (79)
•
26 Apr 09
im a bit of a tom boy think i always have been. when i was little i used to play with my older brother and his mates, at high school i got on with some girls but mainly boys, now i still prefer mens company and do quite ladish activities. i think people should just be who they are whether that be female or male tendancies. i also think that the stereotypical 'man' and 'woman' are fading out slowly
