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"He-man" image too strongly endorsed? Can we be open-minded like women?

Guitar

insane little bug
  • 32
    Posts
    16
    Years
    During the 19th century and even more before then, men and women have been completely and obviously separate and were expected to do completely different things. Men were expected to be cold, rational and emotionless on the outside; women were expected to be more emotional and irrational. Men wore tight pants, because showing the shape of the body was more "manly", sometimes wearing skin-revealing shorts and short sleeves; women wore long dresses with long sleeves so they could hide the shape of their body.

    Since the beginning of the 20th century, women have progressed monumentally in their social rights, while still keeping any of their previous rights they had earlier. It has become acceptable for women to wear tight jeans or shorts or short sleeved shirts. However, their skirt hems have shortened to a length that reveals the legs, and since men have recently liked covering their legs, revealing the skin has become a womanish thing. However, it is still okay for women to wear long dresses, if they like, and switch around according to how they feel. It has also become acceptable to speak loudly and debate topics for a woman. They can now be aggressive and assertive, but it is perfectly acceptable for them to discuss their emotions quietly with others as well as display their emotions.

    Now the funny thing I'd like to point out is that women won't hesitate to be "manly", or adapt men's habits and styles, but men are so afraid of doing ANYTHING that is related only to women. It seems to be a strong case of "superiority complex", on the men's side. They disrespect women and think of themselves as higher than them. So women doing "men's stuff" is fine because they are adapting a "higher" standard, and it also seems that it is perfectly fine for them to "drop" to their own "lower" women's standard. But men are "better" than women, so they are expected to maintain their "high standard" and NEVER lower themselves the the "lower standard of the inferior gender".

    In other words, it is fine for a woman to bawl out her feelings, cry and hug her friends, but it's also perfectly fine for her to be cold and emotionless. However, a man must always be cold and emotionless because he is superior to the woman and most not lower himself to her level. If your female friend was crying for losing her jewelry, you would try to help her or comfort her, but, tell me honestly, WOULD YOU treat your male friend as kindly or compassionately if he acted the same manner?

    You can call him "effeminate", but please, please, please, PLEASE don't call him "GAY", because that would mean that he likes men, which he probably doesn't. It's so childish. Women don't call other women "dykes" or "lesbo" for wearing jeans and being emotionless, so PLEASE respect what other men do as straight, unless it's obvious he likes men.

    Men are stuck trying to maintain their pathetic "he-man" image and they think it's the mature thing to do, but they don't realize that it is the exact opposite of what they think. Not respecting the other sex as your equal by adopting her practices just like she respectfully adopts yours is extremely immature and is just as bad as preventing her from adopting your practices, which was done over a century ago.

    Men, please please get over it. If you really, truly, honestly respect women as your equals, then respect what they do and don't avoid repeating their practices like the plague.
     
    Wow. Interesting. I get what you're saying.

    However, I don't think that's the way it is everywhere. I can only assume that where you live is not open-minded enough.
     
    Wow. Interesting. I get what you're saying.

    However, I don't think that's the way it is everywhere. I can only assume that where you live is not open-minded enough.
    Where I live, men are expected not to wear earrings to formal events. If you are a male teacher, you dress like in uniform in comparison to other men, with big shoes, long trousers, a long-sleeved collared shirt that must be tucked in, and a TIE. While the female teachers may tuck in their shirt or leave it open, wear short or long sleeves, wear a short skirt or long pants or a long skirt, wear a tie or no tie, wear a collared shirt or a dropping collar-less shirt, tuck their shirt in or not and wear cool slippers or big shoes. Male teachers look all the same every day while female teachers change their styles often as they please.

    Edit: Not to mention the male teachers' dress code is not suitable for this hot, sweaty tropical climate.
     
    Hachiji, you put great effort into this, I can tell, nice work. This is also a hard topic to fully grasp and reply to. xD


    EDIT: yeah, looking back at this, this pretty much was solely based off of what happens at my location, *shrugs*
    Spoiler:
     
    Last edited:
    Bro, it's where you're living that is backward. I'm from Singapore and you don't have any kinds of prejudices like this. I had a piercing before, not an earring but a stud. My grandmother made me take it out though. Actually I liked it alot.

    I don't think it's attraction either. Because I've seen really girly dudes with some fine girls.

    Society has standards and when you don't fit that standard, you will be pushed away. That's just the way it is. It's stupid. But it's true.
     
    If anything, this should solely be directed to those that supposedly degrade these type of men. Attraction is purely personal preference and can be taken at both lengths, whether the male is emotionless or not. You do make a good point, but I feel this all depends on your setting and the type of people you live with. The ideas of society as a whole are ambiguous enough to begin with, anyhow. They are always changing and converging; I believe this will too, in time.
     
    Bro, it's where you're living that is backward. I'm from Singapore and you don't have any kinds of prejudices like this. I had a piercing before, not an earring but a stud. My grandmother made me take it out though. Actually I liked it alot.

    I don't think it's attraction either. Because I've seen really girly dudes with some fine girls.

    Society has standards and when you don't fit that standard, you will be pushed away. That's just the way it is. It's stupid. But it's true.

    Mmmm. That's why region and area you live plays a factor, middle/high schools are rough with image where I used to live. Everyone lives in different settings.

    Hopefully with that post I didn't make too much of a fool of myself. xD Knew I shouldn't have said anything. :x

    The last sentence basically, well exactly, what I was trying to give out. Just couldn't find those words I guess. xD

    I guess it would have been better if Hachiji said he was just directing this to those men, I came in as I felt not all men apply to this... not all guys are snobs of course.

    If anything, this should solely be directed to those that supposedly degrade these type of men. Attraction is purely personal preference and can be taken at both lengths, whether the male is emotionless or not. You do make a good point, but I feel this all depends on your setting and the type of people you live with. The ideas of society as a whole are ambiguous enough to begin with, anyhow. They are always changing and converging; I believe this will too, in time.

    True, I agree on how this should be focused to those types of men. Where I used to live image/ego made a large factor of your standing, say in high school.

    Though I do think attraction does play "somewhat" of a factor in his point on the you wouldn't really help out the same gender the same way if you were attracted to the other.

    I guess I just didn't fully understand the point, 8D, was trying to get to.
     
    I was wondering when you said earrings, did you mean piercings or really earrings? Because ALOT of NBA players have ear studs and I don't think they find it feminine.
     
    I was wondering when you said earrings, did you mean piercings or really earrings? Because ALOT of NBA players have ear studs and I don't think they find it feminine.

    I know that a ton of NBA players wear ear studs, that's not what I meant though, I meant feminine earrings. What I was trying to say was like how if a guy wear to act feminine like that, then there's no point to go over to the females standards as attraction will play a factor and the guy would be looked down upon.

    I was trying to show how, it's (in my area) too different and socially rejected for a guy to go over to the girls standards like that.

    I was trying to find the words to your earlier sentence, just didn't explain it right.
     
    During the 19th century and even more before then, men and women have been completely and obviously separate and were expected to do completely different things. Men were expected to be cold, rational and emotionless on the outside; women were expected to be more emotional and irrational.

    I'm going to have to disagree with you here. I hope you don't take offense at my starting an argument, but this seems like a completely modernized view of history (I say this because it has become the fashion to say that men are evil and women have been the true heralds of goodness in all history, at least in public schools round here). Men were not expected to be anything of the sort. Men were expected to be calm and composed... this is not to be confused with cold and emotionless. And yes, men were indeed expected to be rational - but who are you to say that women weren't? Human nature does not change. Everyone is expected to be rational in today's world, and it was the same in the 19th century. If women were thought of as "irrational", why were they left in charge of the household in most European and European-based (eg America) societies? But you are right in that they were seen as wildly emotional - which they are. Women are more emotional than men because of their hormonal make up; fact of life.

    Men wore tight pants, because showing the shape of the body was more "manly", sometimes wearing skin-revealing shorts and short sleeves; women wore long dresses with long sleeves so they could hide the shape of their body.

    ...Yes? Fashions have changed throughout time, what are you trying to say here? Actually, while we might consider the 19th century typical dress "prudish" they were often considered quite attractive in the time. The large hooped skirts were a symbol of the way a woman's hips extend out, amongst other things, and many did show off some bosom.

    Since the beginning of the 20th century, women have progressed monumentally in their social rights, while still keeping any of their previous rights they had earlier. It has become acceptable for women to wear tight jeans or shorts or short sleeved shirts. However, their skirt hems have shortened to a length that reveals the legs, and since men have recently liked covering their legs, revealing the skin has become a womanish thing. However, it is still okay for women to wear long dresses, if they like, and switch around according to how they feel.

    Friend, it has been a rare occasion in history where men would show off the flair of their skin. It is not a "recent" phenomenon. You're looking at the problem all wrong. You're thinking of it like territory, "women can wear this and that but men can only wear that!" Not so. Think about why women wear skirts and show off their legs. Why is it? Because men find it attractive. Do women find it attractive when men show off their legs? Not typically, no. Both sexes wearing pants is more of a cultural/practicality thing, but even in the 19th century women of certain classes/professions would wear pants. There's your answer as to why men don't show off skin and women do, friend.

    It has also become acceptable to speak loudly and debate topics for a woman. They can now be aggressive and assertive, but it is perfectly acceptable for them to discuss their emotions quietly with others as well as display their emotions.

    Women were perfectly assertive in prior times, only it was not in any sort of reigning council. What has changed are the situations in which it is acceptable for women to debate with men. On the other end of the spectrum, I think it has become (and is widely becoming) more acceptable for men to be more "sensitive" and discuss their emotions, whereas in American society it has usually been more socially correct for males to keep their problems to themselves so as not to bother others.

    Now the funny thing I'd like to point out is that women won't hesitate to be "manly", or adapt men's habits and styles, but men are so afraid of doing ANYTHING that is related only to women. It seems to be a strong case of "superiority complex", on the men's side. They disrespect women and think of themselves as higher than them. So women doing "men's stuff" is fine because they are adapting a "higher" standard, and it also seems that it is perfectly fine for them to "drop" to their own "lower" women's standard. But men are "better" than women, so they are expected to maintain their "high standard" and NEVER lower themselves the the "lower standard of the inferior gender".

    I'll have to disagree here. I wouldn't consider this a superiority complex at all. I don't understand why society is trying to "meld" the two genders together. In all of history sexes have had certain tasks and such considered more applicable to them. I, for one, consider history a mentor and don't understand why society wants to fuse these two. If a woman wants to be a lumberjack, that's just fine. I feel the job makes more sense for a man (being anatomically bigger and stronger usually), but her choice. However, I'd rather not sit at home and learn how to quilt. Why? Historically, this is something women have traditionally done and I don't have an interest in it. Am I not learning it because I feel it is "below" me? No. My reasons have nothing to do with any sort of superiority complex. Sure, there are men who disrespect women, but are you going to tell me that it doesn't go the other way around? What do we, as men, constantly hear? "Men are pigs." This is not considered sexist at all because men do tend to use women. But when a man says "Women are hos" because they dress provocatively, get drunk, and do things it's considered degrading and sexist. It's a silly double-standard. Sorry, I guess I'm rambling. =p My point is you're looking at it from one angle (one very skewed angle). But also, what would you consider "women things"? Sewing? Cooking? These are both things that were performed by both sexes but professionally by men. The common view that sewing and cooking are "girly" things is historically rubbish.


    In other words, it is fine for a woman to bawl out her feelings, cry and hug her friends, but it's also perfectly fine for her to be cold and emotionless. However, a man must always be cold and emotionless because he is superior to the woman and most not lower himself to her level. If your female friend was crying for losing her jewelry, you would try to help her or comfort her, but, tell me honestly, WOULD YOU treat your male friend as kindly or compassionately if he acted the same manner?

    First of all, women need different treatment in that situation because they are more emotional and need a little more sympathy. If my male friend lost something I would help him just the same. You may mistake the fact that I'm not telling him 'everything's going to be okay' or hugging him as a lack of kindness or compassion - but that's just silly.

    On another note, society is trying to breed generations of males to be "sensitive and emotional" so if that's what you really want you might soon be getting your wish. I still don't understand where you get this "superiority" concept, though.

    You can call him "effeminate", but please, please, please, PLEASE don't call him "GAY", because that would mean that he likes men, which he probably doesn't. It's so childish. Women don't call other women "dykes" or "lesbo" for wearing jeans and being emotionless, so PLEASE respect what other men do as straight, unless it's obvious he likes men.

    What are you trying to say here? I really wish you'd stop tagging men as emotionless just because we're less open on average.

    Men are stuck trying to maintain their pathetic "he-man" image and they think it's the mature thing to do, but they don't realize that it is the exact opposite of what they think. Not respecting the other sex as your equal by adopting her practices just like she respectfully adopts yours is extremely immature and is just as bad as preventing her from adopting your practices, which was done over a century ago.

    Respectfully adopting her practices? Listen friend, let's take skirts for example: skirts, compared to pants or shorts, are unwieldy and difficult. Why do women wear them? Because it's "womanly", "proper", or "attractive." I have no problem with this. Women would laugh at and ridicule a man in a skirt (not all of them, obviously). My point is women have these historical tendencies, too, that belong to them. Why aren't arguing that they should be abolished? You seem to think that because women adopted practicalities like pants, we should adopt impracticalities like skirts. I'm confused?

    Men, please please get over it. If you really, truly, honestly respect women as your equals, then respect what they do and don't avoid repeating their practices like the plague.

    After reading this, I am tempted to stop being chivalrous, wear skirts, and watch Opera. =p
     
    Haha. I contemplate this sort of thing a lot. Mainly because I have gender issues. Har.

    All gender stereotypes can just go to hell, honestly. My ideal world would be an androgynous one, even though I know that probably will never happen. I suppose it's at least partially instinct that we look at the sexes in different ways. :(

    Sure, there are men who disrespect women, but are you going to tell me that it doesn't go the other way around? What do we, as men, constantly hear? "Men are pigs." This is not considered sexist at all because men do tend to use women. But when a man says "Women are hos" because they dress provocatively, get drunk, and do things it's considered degrading and sexist. It's a silly double-standard. Sorry, I guess I'm rambling. =p My point is you're looking at it from one angle (one very skewed angle). But also, what would you consider "women things"? Sewing? Cooking? These are both things that were performed by both sexes but professionally by men. The common view that sewing and cooking are "girly" things is historically rubbish.

    ^ I agree with this much. Sexism goes both ways. How many television shows have you seen where the dad is a complete moron who's always being treated like a child by his wife? Can you imagine what an uproar there'd be if they made the woman an idiot? People can say anything they want about men, but you're only 'sexist' if you start calling women stupid and weak and whatnot. It's a double-standard and it's very sucky. Plus, I think I see more guys on the food network than girls, and there are certainly male fashion designers. There are guys who do ballet, guys who ice skate, and guys who grow flowers. What else?

    Really, though, I can see that people as a whole look way too much at gender as far as behavior and acceptible ways to act are concerned. Men and women stereotype themselves and each other. There's too much of 'boys wear this and girls wear that', 'boys act like this and girls act like that'. I can't count how many times I was told to "sit like a lady" as a kid, and society probably wouldn't welcome a man who wears skirts with open arms. My mom wouldn't buy me a Bionicle when I was little because they were for boys, and any boy who asked for a Barbie probably got laughed out of the toy store. :\ Those are the things that annoy me the most. (and G.I. Joe is just Ken with stubble. You can dress him up and accessorize him with new guns and everything. Come the hell on, it's just trying to buff up the image of dolls so that 'boys can do it too'. On a similar note, I despise the pink DS. "We made a pink one so girls can play too!" Why the hell else would that be the only color besides black or white? D:)

    I understand that anatomically men at least have the capacity to be physically stronger than women can become naturally, but I've seen some pretty wimpy guys, and some girls who could kick some guys' asses. I don't believe that one sex as a whole is smarter than the other and there certainly isn't one that's better or superior.

    And chivalry basically is sexism. :|

    Feels like I could rant more about this, bring up some new points and clear some things up. But ah hell, I'm done.
     
    Loved reading your points, Oddberry, very interesting view on the matter from a girl's perspective. =D

    Well, what I feel (ow ow ow, hurts to type cause I got my fingers jammed staff sparring in kung fu ;w;) is that, historically - and especially in historical America - women have been raised to do things like tending to ripped clothes when they couldn't afford a repair from the town tailor and men have been brought up to be more physical and be ready to go to war for their country. This then leads to Barbie for girls and G.I. Joe for guys, hm? Personally I'm totally fine with this. Call them "stereotypes" if you want, but historically they've worked just fine for centuries. =p Our society is becoming more androgynous, though.

    Very true that women can become strong. My former girlfriend (also my kung fu sister) can kick one or two of my kung fu brothers' tails.

    About chivalry...I've found many women share this philosophy, that somehow we're degrading them by being chivalrous. Personally I don't understand it. What you gals seem to think is that we're opening doors and pulling out chairs for you because you're 'weak' or something. Is that right? Because hey, think about it - where did chivalry come from? It came from Europe and evolved as manners cultivated in order to woo women. Now it's become more of a politeness thing (among the few of us guys who still uphold it), but the ideals are the same. Let me try to straighten this out for you: We're not doing it because you're weaker. We're doing it out of respect for you and because we think we, as men, should always let you know that we care for and honor/esteem you very, very deeply.

    After all, you go through the toils of carrying our children. Thanks <3.
     
    I agree with you 8D, except that guys can show emotion. It's natural for all humans, and some guys just try to hide their emotions to not get hurt. I would say that I'm open minded, I'll look at an idea and then form an opinion based on the information given. But guys tend to be more emotional towards women than other guys, and that's because of the testosterone. A guy and a guy will "pal around" with each other while a guy and a girl will go a little more deeply. I'm a guy, and I'll support all my friends, male and female.
     
    Haha, thanks, although I'd much prefer to be seen as 'one of the guys', if you know what I mean. :B

    But, really, would you hold the door open for another guy? I would. That's just being courteous. Neither gender needs more respect than the other, because they're both equal, yes? And besides, chivalry isn't really just 'being nice to women'. It came from a time period where the church ruled the world and women had hardly any rights, and really just existed to be wooed by men and to manage the house and have kids. :( And it also includes things like serving God and your country.

    Heyhey, I don't get all emotional over everything. My response to pretty much everything is "who cares" or "screw it". 'Tis why politics are a little over my head. But then again, I'm one of the guys, so.
     
    Okay, Fred. =p

    Technically I hold the door open for everyone as a general rule. People who get priority are elders (that means anyone older than me, not just seniors) and women. Actually, chivalry really is just being nice to women. Historical politics aside (the Church's theoretical theocracy over the reigning monarchy really has nothing to do with it, I assure you), the point was frankly to be nice to women/woo them/read what I said before about respect. Don't forget that, in those times, in any given social class it was the young male who had to show respect to everyone else. Serving God and your country? Where on Earth did you get the idea that chivalry has anything to do with that =p?

    But yeah. Both genders are equal, but you can think of holding the door open for women thanks for your selfless efforts to "manage the house and have kids". Speaking on behalf of all chivalrous men; we really wish you wouldn't get steamed about it. We're just trying to show how much we care for you. c:
     
    Oliver. Oliver Crafton. :]

    Wikipedia said:
    When examining medieval literature, chivalry can be classified into three basic but overlapping areas:

    1. Duties to countrymen and fellow Christians: this contains virtues such as mercy, courage, valor, fairness, protection of the weak and the poor, and in the servant-hood of the knight to his lord. This also brings with it the idea of being willing to give one's life for another's; whether he would be giving his life for a poor man or his lord.
    2. Duties to God: this would contain being faithful to God, protecting the innocent, being faithful to the church, being the champion of good against evil, being generous and obeying God above the feudal lord.
    3. Duties to women: this is probably the most familiar aspect of chivalry. This would contain what is often called courtly love, the idea that the knight is to serve a lady, and after her all other ladies. Most especially in this category is a general gentleness and graciousness to all women.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry

    https://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall/chivalry.html
    ^ there too, because there's 'no sources listed' on Wiki.

    Admittedly my knowledge of history is mainly centered on Ancient Rome and whatever other peoples I happen to find interesting (Currently the Aztecs, because human sacrifice is cool), but I know the basics mostly. I've been paying attention this year. D:
     
    Sorry for the misunderstanding, Oli. I thought you meant chivalry in concerns to women was all about country and God.

    Yes, the code of chivalry expanded greatly to many core values. I was solely talking about in regards to the ancestor of door-holding and chair-pulling: chivalry towards women. As you so beautifully quoted, this entails "a general gentleness and graciousness to all women." I was leaving the rest of the code out of our discussion. Sorry for the misunderstanding. c:
     
    You can call him "effeminate", but please, please, please, PLEASE don't call him "GAY", because that would mean that he likes men, which he probably doesn't. It's so childish. Women don't call other women "dykes" or "lesbo" for wearing jeans and being emotionless, so PLEASE respect what other men do as straight, unless it's obvious he likes men.

    Men are stuck trying to maintain their pathetic "he-man" image and they think it's the mature thing to do, but they don't realize that it is the exact opposite of what they think. Not respecting the other sex as your equal by adopting her practices just like she respectfully adopts yours is extremely immature and is just as bad as preventing her from adopting your practices, which was done over a century ago.

    OH WOW you are so right i am glad somebody else thinks this way. Alot of men do not want to sink themselves lower and i am glad another man sees this (Y)

    it makes me curious though. Why did you post this?

    and the whole calling people gay think is sooo true too, its completely pointless.
     
    OH WOW you are so right i am glad somebody else thinks this way. Alot of men do not want to sink themselves lower and i am glad another man sees this (Y)

    it makes me curious though. Why did you post this?

    and the whole calling people gay think is sooo true too, its completely pointless.
    Well, as I said in my previous post, I posted this to give out my raw, uncensored opinion and I thought that the best place to do this would be anonymously on the internet in order not to make myself look stupid.
     
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