Is this a reasonable argument?
Babble blogger Laura Mayes made an interesting point recently with her column, "Someone To Look Up To," by discussing a potential girl power backlash. With full knowledge that we still make less, etc. etc., Mayes wonders if powerful girl messaging is making her six-year-old son feel inadequate -- she cites an overrun world of female educators, business women and pop messaging like Beyonce's Run The World (Girls) after her son questions why everyone in charge of his life is a woman.
Mayes explains that a lot of this has to do with her son's age. She writes:
Remember, this is coming from a kid whose only understanding of the world began in 2005... and let's be honest, he's only started to understand a PBS Kids-version of the world since about 2008. So he has no concept why one gender would need to be encouraged over another.
Of course, this depends on the boy. My eight-year-old just told me the other day that boys are always stronger than girls and I reminded him that I am not only stronger than him, but bigger than him. So there's that.
While Mayes's piece is a thought-provoking tribute to her son about gender equality, I think girl power messaging can be enlightening without taking anyone down -- that includes young boys. Granted, we're seeing all sorts of reports that boys struggle in their own way. They're more likely to drop out of high school. In the home, women have been appointed the decision-makers. And in the workplace (despite the wage gap) women have a higher employment rate than men. Hannah Rosin's ubiquitous 2010 Atlantic Monthly article "The End of Men," argued that women and girls have not only become preferred sex, but that we're holding more powerful positions than ever -- and more that we might be better suited to those positions than men are.
Says Rosin in that article:
But what if men and women were fulfilling not biological imperatives but social roles, based on what was more efficient throughout a long era of human history? What if that era has now come to an end? More to the point, what if the economics of the new era are better suited to women?
Still, I'm not convinced we should focus on What about me, Mom? when (if) your boy asks about girl empowerment. It's about explaining some of the basics, like the historical -- and, let's face it, current -- fight for gender equality. That Mommy wasn't always allowed the same rights as Daddy. Because my kid is eight, I can't yet talk to him about the other ways women and girls are currently over-sexualized or treated differently from men and boys like this, or this or this.
In my kids' bathroom above the toilet, I hung a poster called "The 19th Amendment" by artist Michael Albert-- it's a collage that features the text of the 19th amendment and was given to me by my sister-in-law who is a friend of the artist. I didn't consciously hang it over the toilet -- honest -- the space simply fit. But in retrospect I realized the poster, with the actual quote from the constitution and hundreds of images of women (including Dora, the Statue of Liberty and, uh, Pebbles, though I'm not sure how Fred and Wilma's offspring fits in here, she's cute nevertheless) acted as a daily history lesson.
Every time my son pees standing up, he's reminded that women didn't have the right to vote until 1920. Now put down the lid on that toilet. Thank you, honey.
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Men and women evolved with complimentary skills to ensure the survival of them and their offspring and in my opinion, for most people these gender strengths and weaknesses have remained. Women for example are able to multitask much better than men and are far better at communicating emotional thought. Men are better at concentrating with single minded focus and are able to divorce emotion from logic.
These are simple examples, but give indication to where our skills are better suited. Typically, women will make better managers, primary care physicians, sales people etc. through being able to juggle multiple tasks at once and use her communication skills to more effectively motivate. Men will typically make better technicians were the ability to focus on single tasks with great concentration is key - programmers, surgeons, pilots etc.
This is just pointing out typical traits and I don't think a person should ever be discouraged from pursuing a profession or career just because of their gender, I do though feel that if we are more honest about where our complimentary strengths lie we may all be a bit happier while our species waits for our physiology to catch up with technology.
Tell him that he does not have to limit his aspirations to careers or activities formerly delegated to men only, but can choose whatever interests him. Ballet, or football, or both. He can be a nurse or a fireman, a Kindergarten teacher or a pilot. He is no longer bound by his gender. And neither is his sister.
How about starting with that?
i know people judge women in getting this and that privileges and i saw a lot of comments how divorce is more in favor to women. but this really case by case isn't it? there are men that didn't pay their child support or even care about his children too. what will you say about these men?? also, when a 50-year-old rich man marrying a 20-year-old, should he be surprised that this women is only after his money?? (i'm totally agree that not all women are saints)
second of all, i've dated mostly educated (which i mean phd/md/mba...) women and i've taken many ap courses in hs with them and throughout my life so i have no problems with equality (i have a phd). and, i don't feel threatened by "grl power" since it isn't directed at us, at least from the non-womens study women (and i did date one of those too).
lastly, when men were in charge they still needed women for companionship, not just for procreation, which women are much more into. if women do in fact take over they will still need us because when they are done "experimenting" with their sexuality when they are undergrads they will discover the joys of having a heterosexual mate.
are all men bad? no. are all women good? no. we should strive for a gender neutral school/work environment and leave dating and relationships to individuals, where it belongs and not saddle our kids with the burden of past misdeeds by someone else of their gender, race, ethnicity, creed and/or sexual-orientation. take a chill pill.
Feminist use their minds to create THEIR OWN problems and turmoil and then they use that SAME mind to produce a solution. Do you not see the insanity? Females are at the unhappiest point they've been at in history and mental disorders with women continue to increase. This is because you no longer have the masculine energy to balance your feminine. Now that you women are on your own you have to be masculine 24/7, men use to shield you from this by giving you an escape back to your radiant feminine essence.
And you think you're angering men by taking this resentment out on your son? I feel sorry for you little girl. Have you been watching the news? Women are complaining of the constant constraints and pressure of being single parents. Women are consuming anti-depressants like their candy and visiting therapist daily. Congratulations! You abandoned your husbands and now what? Children are going out of control due to the lack of male guidance in their lives.
If you women are apparently winning...Can someone PLEASE tell me.... who's losing?
Now THAT'S a feminist Mom!
Every time my son pees standing up, he's reminded that women didn't have the right to vote until 1920. Now put down the lid on that toilet. Thank you, honey.
What I'd like to know is how many 8 year old boys think of Womens Suffrage while urinating? I think he is more focused on how much Kool-Aid he had to drink or where he left his Super Soaker.
The only thing on my mind is my aim.
Mommys can and do vote for war, but have no obligation to participate -'cause she's oppressed and you and Daddy aren't.
That's the price you pays for peeing while standing up.
"My eight-year-old just told me the other day that boys are always stronger than girls and I reminded him that I am not only stronger than him, but bigger than him. So there's that."
But Mommy...you aren't a "girl". Your'e an...adult. Remember?
If we are never going to reinstate the draft, why are men FORCED to sign up for it? Why are women not FORCED to sign up for it?
I'm a woman. I served. Why didn't you?
Equal rights means equal responsibility.
Either Selective Service has to GO for men, or women have to step up and take their spin at the wheel. Don't ask don't tell is now gone, so are the excuses why you don't have to do your part, yet men do.
Welcome to the oppressive patriarchy, comrade.