Anyone else bothered by the increased blurring of gender roles?

[Brawndo]

Many traditionally male roles and traits are no longer celebrated or instilled in today's youth. In my opinion, pop culture has largely contributed to the feminizing of men and boys. For example, one thing that particularly bothers me is how popular it is on TV shows to portray husbands and fathers as bumbling idiots who are easily controlled by their wives and children.

And let's not forget the hypersensitive nanny-state parents that don't let boys be boys. I worked as a camp counselor at my local YMCA with 12-14 year olds, and I have never seen such a group of sissies, hypochondriacs, and whiners. How are these boys going to grow up to be leaders of men and protectors of women?

EDIT: Since people on this forum never seem to read past the OP:

From Post #19: Never once did I suggest or condone a return to a time of women being "barefoot and pregnant" in the kitchen while the manly men went out to hunt bears. I like that women work and men have shared responsibility with children. I don't think the father/husband should hold a dictatorship over his household and beat his wife and kids.

But I do think that men and women have certain innate traits that make them better suited for different things. When I'm feeling sad and I need a sympathetic ear, I call my mother or a female friend, because women are generally better at empathy. And every girlfriend I've ever had enjoyed feeling safe in my presence, even if pragmatically there isn't much danger a cop couldn't protect her from. But boys and male teens today are increasingly turning into overly sensitive delicate flowers

 

[Nimcha]

How are these boys going to group up to be leaders of men and protectors of women?

Well, not, obviously. And women don't need men to protect them.

 

[Gruchul]

In answer to the question posed in the topic, no. No I am not concerned in the slightest.

 

[DefunctTheory]

The feminist rights groups destroyed gender roles a bit ago.

And than the (3rd wave?) of feminist rolled up, in effect chopping the balls off men and producing what we have now, an age of pansies.

But, for the most part, I enjoy the gender walls coming down. Nothing says I still can't be manly, and if the date goes bad, she can pay for her own damn meal now.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Welcome to 2010. Clearly you've just taken a visit from July 1914.

Men don't need to be manly any more and women don't need to be the damsel in distress. If we kept it like that then the grim reality is that there would be a lot of uncomfortable people in the world.

Calumon: Does this mean Jack can be someone's mommy?

 

[leviathanmisha]

I'm concerned by all of it, but I'm the only daughter of a former Air Force sergeant that fought in Vietnam, so I was raised to be a little tougher than most of the boys in my neighborhood.

It's not just male roles that are getting screwed up, but also female roles. Yeah, I don't always like the women in the kitchen jokes, but I get that woman are more natural there. I have no qualms about cooking and I get pissed when I see those girls that don't even know how to boil water.

Maybe it's just the Sicilian in me talking. I think I'm going to go rant to people on the internet now.

 

[Comma-Kazie]

No, I think you're alone in this.

 

[JezebelinHell]

I am more concerned about the lack of actual parenting and discipline than what is on the television and media.

 

[CoverYourHead]

Out of all your complaints, the only one not hideously out-dated is that boys can't be boys. That bugs me. Kids should be able to fight with each other, be a little violent, it's good for them! Makes them tough! Let kids rough around, play in the dirt, scrape their knees. It's good for 'em!

But everything else makes me think you just stepped out of a time machine from the early 1900's.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

Short answer:
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Long answer:
Men aren't being "pussified" by the abandonment of traditional gender roles. What's mainly happening is that women aren't expected to stay home and raise the kids while the men go out and bring home the bacon. I mean, men were already in practically all the different job fields for most of history. It's not like they're being forced out.

And why do women need to be "protected" by men? Them seem to be able to do fine on their own.

I don't know... I get the feeling that you and I hold some different core values here.

 

[Hoplon]

Maybe it's just the Sicilian in me talking. I think I'm going to go rant to people on the internet now.

You should ask him to pull out then. ;P

The roles still exist, they are no longer for the most part defined by gender. often split between the two people acting as parents. It's better for humanity in the long run.

 

[ChaoticKraus]

Not at all. Now people that actually is the most fitting to be leaders/protectors/whatever gets more chances at becoming one, regardless of genders.

The whiny problem stretches to kids of both genders. But i don't worry about that either. They will most likely grow up one day. If i did, anyone can.

 

[Wedlock49]

for one, this thread is flame bait started by a troll.

Gender roles within society are completely pointless now-a-days, Males should not have to act like Men and Females should not have to act like women. Masculine/feminine behaviour is an out-dated concept and I'l be very happy once it's abolished completely, people are people and society should not dictate to them their gender nor their behavior.

As for the people you mentioned at the camp, that's not being girly, that's being pathetic and weak. That's more bad parenting and molly-coddling from parents who think their child is too special to face the real world.

 

[Atmos Duality]

At its most base level, an opinion will always be considered a form of discrimination.
Most people are sensible enough to recognize that, but there will always be some asshole who wants to stir up controversy for whatever reason; by taking that opinion and blowing it way WAY out of proportion.

As an example: Resident Evil 5 has you killing African Zombies in Africa! THATS SO RACIST, DISCRIMINATING AND EVIL!
...Yeah. And Resident Evil 4 had you killing Spanish Zombies in Spain, Resident Evil 3 had you killing American Zombies (mostly white) in America...
So, what makes that any more or less discriminating again? Oh right, someone wanted to stir the shit pot because it's "topical".

The point in all this is that any form of discrimination will exist if someone wants to look hard enough. Cultural/Ethnic/gender norms can blend into a homogeneous blob all you want and it won't change the fact that someone can still ***** about it.

 

[SkyeNeko]

I think its nice that they get more in touch with their feminine side, but not if they try to jump the barrier entirely (talking about straight guys).

That said, i still think a woman v. man fistfight is still unfair...

 

[Wynn Donivan]

Some people need to be protected, and some people need to protect.
I think the fact that society is slowly stopping this ridiculous business of trying to tell people which they are based on their gender is cause for celebration.

 

[Brawndo]

Out of all your complaints, the only one not hideously out-dated is that boys can't be boys. That bugs me. Kids should be able to fight with each other, be a little violent, it's good for them! Makes them tough! Let kids rough around, play in the dirt, scrape their knees. It's good for 'em!

But everything else makes me think you just stepped out of a time machine from the early 1900's.

See, I can never make this argument without being called a relic of the past. I've already been accused of this three times in this thread.

Never once did I suggest or condone a return to a time of women being "barefoot and pregnant" in the kitchen while the manly men went out to hunt bears. I like that women work and men have shared responsibility with children. I don't think the father/husband should hold a dictatorship over his household and beat his wife and kids.

But I do think that men and women have certain innate traits that make them better suited for different things. When I'm feeling sad and I need a sympathetic ear, I call my mother or a female friend, because women are generally better at empathy. And every girlfriend I've ever had enjoyed feeling safe in my presence, even if pragmatically there isn't much danger a cop couldn't protect her from. But boys and male teens today are increasingly turning into overly sensitive delicate flowers

 

[Danzaivar]

How are these boys going to group up to be leaders of men and protectors of women?

Well, not, obviously. And women don't need men to protect them.

Really? Because I have many personal anecdotes with female friends, my mother, girlfriends, and even random female strangers that suggest otherwise. Despite what lemon-scented crunchy-granola liberals like to scream about in their podcasts, men protecting women is not misogynistic at all.

Oh well, nothing could be more conclusive and compelling than personal anecdotes. Who gives a fuck? People should act how they want to act, not based on what they have between their legs. If a woman wants a big strong man to make her feel safe, there's still plenty of men out there like that happy to oblige. If a guy wants a wily tough woman, there's some out there for them. There's nothing stopping any of that.

 

[A random person]

Damn it Spearhead, get out of my Escapist!

First of all, women should be taught to protect themselves; even if they're at a physical disadvantage, a punch to the face is still a punch to the face, and they're damn well better at that than demure-and-submissive gender roles would imply (and likewise, they should have to do actual push-ups). Raising half the population to be fundamentally more dependent does not a good social structure make.

Secondly, the presence of the bumbling husband indicates that we still view fathers as viable and strong; if we really thought men were like Homer Simpson, it wouldn't be all that funny when he acts like an idiot.

Now, you might have a point about the weakness of your group when you worked as a camp counselor, but considering the "protector of women" part, you're implying that women shouldn't be held to a similar standard. Weakness is a bad thing, regardless of gender, women should damn well be able to fend for themselves of men should.