(Note: This has been running through my head since a discussion I had with Annie last week. You can see more of that at #25.)
Alright, before any feminists start throwing things at me, let me give a little disclaimer: I am not the type of girl to constantly have a boyfriend or always need a man in her life. I attend a women's college, and I completely support any woman's right to have her own career and make more money than her husband, if she wishes. I also support any gay person's right to marry the person of their choosing.
Have I covered it all? No one will hate me now? Yay!
Okay, so that said, I kind of adore gender roles when it comes to marriage. Not to say that I think that a wife exists to do her husband's bidding, or that I think something as complicated and difficult about the ultimate commitment that is marriage can be simplified down to gender roles.
But I'm a stereotypical wife in the making. I've pretty much been that way since I was born.
Examples:
I enjoy cooking and baking, and setting out a nice dining table with food. I like hosting parties. I don't like cleaning, but when it needs to be done I'm really good at it, as well as organizing. I know how to do basic knitting, crocheting, and sewing; and I've known how to tie a man's tie for him since I was about seven years old. I'm crafty, and I love tutoring kids and helping them with their homework. I'm good at keeping up with birthday cards and I can write an awesome thank you note. I also love decorating my house for the holidays. As far as stereotypical wifely duties go, I've kind of got it covered.
So is it completely terrible that I find myself having stereotypical expectations of men? Or at least ones that I'm interested in? For instance, I know my basic way around a car (checking oil, air conditioning fluid, changing a battery, etc.) but if something ever went wrong I could definitely get taken advantage of by a mechanic. I've never mowed a lawn in my entire life, unless you count the one or two times my grandfather let me use his ride-along mower, which I will admit was completely fun. I can change a lightbulb, but I don't know anything about plumbing and I can't (/won't) snake a drain. Cooking food on the grill terrifies me, and though I know I to start a fire, I shy away from that one two. And I cannot for the life of me kill a bug, let alone any other kind of house pest.
My point? I support women's rights. I'm glad I get to vote. And I'm slightly envious of any mechanically skilled, lawn-mowing, bug-killing woman. So I'm tired of feminist women telling me that I'm ridiculous just because I'm a little more traditional than they might be. I mean, traditions exist for a reason.
1 comment:
I think if you wait for a man who is chivalrous, you'll find one willing to fulfill your gender role in a respectful rather than chauvinistic way. Worked for me. :) I think the only thing that would upset me is if, as smart as you are, you get this degree and work hard and then just end up getting married, squirting out some kids and never working a day in your life as anything more than "Mom." That fulfillment of gender role would be a shame
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