and possibly because there are more highly masculine women than highly feminine men?
This might be true as stated, but it’s certainly also true that in a society that is still male-dominated, it’s more acceptable to be a masculine woman (“strong!”) than a feminine man (“wussy”). Consider that it’s no longer even noteworthy for a woman to wear a suit, but even in the most accepting and progressive of western subcultures it’s unusual for men to wear dresses other than as costumes. (That’s “male-gendered,” not “male-bodied”; transwomen are not men-in-dresses.)
For that reason, I’m wary of the assertion that more women are naturally inclined to act in manly ways than vice versa; the environment in which we’re observing is inherently biased.
For that reason, I’m wary of the assertion that more women are naturally inclined to act in manly ways than vice versa; the environment in which we’re observing is inherently biased.
I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the extent of oppression of women has necessitated reconsideration of women’s gender roles, whereas men haven’t really had a similar movement.
That’s a really interesting question. It makes me think about what the differences are between a movement to rebel against another group, and a movement to change a group that you’re part of. And under what circumstances is it possible to create a movement for more freedom when you already belong to the power group?
I think we may be in the midst of such circumstances right now, actually. I’d be interested to know how much the LGBT rights movement is influencing gender roles, particularly male gender roles. The movement encourages people in general to question gender roles. Acceptance of transpeople, for instance, requires that people rethink the idea that gender and sex are equivalent.
Also, I think it’s interesting that gay men (or some of them, in any case), who belong to an oppressed subset of the power group, have been able to push gender boundaries to a great extent. This may have to do with the fact that traditional male gender roles dictate attraction to women, so gay men are already questioning their roles. I wonder, though, if the fact that they’re a subset of the power group will allow the movement to benefit all men.
This might be true as stated, but it’s certainly also true that in a society that is still male-dominated, it’s more acceptable to be a masculine woman (“strong!”) than a feminine man (“wussy”). Consider that it’s no longer even noteworthy for a woman to wear a suit, but even in the most accepting and progressive of western subcultures it’s unusual for men to wear dresses other than as costumes. (That’s “male-gendered,” not “male-bodied”; transwomen are not men-in-dresses.)
For that reason, I’m wary of the assertion that more women are naturally inclined to act in manly ways than vice versa; the environment in which we’re observing is inherently biased.
I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the extent of oppression of women has necessitated reconsideration of women’s gender roles, whereas men haven’t really had a similar movement.
That’s a really interesting question. It makes me think about what the differences are between a movement to rebel against another group, and a movement to change a group that you’re part of. And under what circumstances is it possible to create a movement for more freedom when you already belong to the power group?
I think we may be in the midst of such circumstances right now, actually. I’d be interested to know how much the LGBT rights movement is influencing gender roles, particularly male gender roles. The movement encourages people in general to question gender roles. Acceptance of transpeople, for instance, requires that people rethink the idea that gender and sex are equivalent.
Also, I think it’s interesting that gay men (or some of them, in any case), who belong to an oppressed subset of the power group, have been able to push gender boundaries to a great extent. This may have to do with the fact that traditional male gender roles dictate attraction to women, so gay men are already questioning their roles. I wonder, though, if the fact that they’re a subset of the power group will allow the movement to benefit all men.