I know plenty of strong, intelligent and successful women, religious and non-religious, who chose “traditional gender roles”. I get pretty nervous when anyone suggests they are ignorant or backward, by virtue of their life choices. They aren’t hurting anyone and there is good evidence their kids do better in life than kids in other family configurations.
I know plenty of strong, intelligent and successful women, religious and non-religious, who chose “traditional gender roles”. I get pretty nervous when anyone suggests they are ignorant or backward, by virtue of their life choices. They aren’t hurting anyone and there is good evidence their kids do better in life than kids in other family configurations.
Individuals make choices that include gender roles, based upon their personal beliefs and values. If a woman decides to go to law school but then starts a family and decides to focus on her family, she is choosing a gender role consistent with her value of focusing on her family over her career.
A "gender role" is a sociological concept. You can choose to believe in them, in which case I strongly disagree with your beliefs. That is completely separate from your life choices.
“the role or behavior considered to be appropriate to a particular gender as determined by prevailing cultural norms.” one of several definitions I find. aren’t behaviors based upon personal choices?
The key word there is "appropriate." If you believe in gender roles, you believe that some roles (outside of biological, sex-specific "roles"), like "breadwinner" or "nurturer," are appropriate to people of one sex, and some to others, above and beyond personal preference for those roles. This is relevant to sociology and culture, not individual lives.
great point. I don't believe in "appropriate roles" so should have looked further for a definition I agree with. I do believe in freedom of choice about roles and respect for individuals who chose roles to their liking. Not for me to judge.
I know plenty of strong, intelligent and successful women, religious and non-religious, who chose “traditional gender roles”. I get pretty nervous when anyone suggests they are ignorant or backward, by virtue of their life choices. They aren’t hurting anyone and there is good evidence their kids do better in life than kids in other family configurations.
I have absolutely no idea what you're getting at here; individual choices are not gender roles.
Individuals make choices that include gender roles, based upon their personal beliefs and values. If a woman decides to go to law school but then starts a family and decides to focus on her family, she is choosing a gender role consistent with her value of focusing on her family over her career.
A "gender role" is a sociological concept. You can choose to believe in them, in which case I strongly disagree with your beliefs. That is completely separate from your life choices.
“the role or behavior considered to be appropriate to a particular gender as determined by prevailing cultural norms.” one of several definitions I find. aren’t behaviors based upon personal choices?
The key word there is "appropriate." If you believe in gender roles, you believe that some roles (outside of biological, sex-specific "roles"), like "breadwinner" or "nurturer," are appropriate to people of one sex, and some to others, above and beyond personal preference for those roles. This is relevant to sociology and culture, not individual lives.
great point. I don't believe in "appropriate roles" so should have looked further for a definition I agree with. I do believe in freedom of choice about roles and respect for individuals who chose roles to their liking. Not for me to judge.