Agender

[davefreer]

A piece I read this morning brought up the whole sexual stereotyping thing in my mind again. Back when my older boy was in I think grade 4 or 5 they had a class on gender stereotypes. Teacher held forth about how bad it was. My kid grows increasingly puzzled. Asks teacher for clarification. "Well your mommy always has to cook supper

Comments

a gentleman of many parts

[reverancepavane]

I've always felt that a Renaissance Man is a man who diffuses to refine himself.

Re: a gentleman of many parts

[davefreer]

grin. That was aweful. At least a double groaner.

Re: Agender

[texasmarc]

Sure do wish we were neighbors. I think we'd be fast friends, thick as thieves.

Re: Agender

[davefreer]

:-) One would hope so!

[brownkitty]

I wish I could remember who wrote that the work doesn't care who does it.

[davefreer]

They were right on the money, whoever they were. (Which is why same work, same pay is so important to me.)

[murstein]

I've long maintained that the ideal division of labor is decided upon by the couple involved. To the extent they're real (as opposed to historical artifacts or attempts at social control), gender stereotypes are the median of the families in the society.

In my family, we both agree that food is almost always tastier if my wife cooks it. On the other hand, we also agree that I'm better at running the sewing machine. And, so far, I'm the only one to do much sewing of leather.

[davefreer]

There are some logical divisions - for example men are in general larger and stronger, so if a job requires one person (there is only room at the top of the ladder hanging the hams for 1 - logic and common sense says that should be the stronger one. But that to my mind isn't determined by gender, but by strength. There will be cases where the opposite is true. And while one partner in your relationship cooks better - would you refuse to cook if she was really tired or not well? Obviously not. Often gender stereotypes are an excuse - on both sides of divide - for laziness, or a symbol of chronic insecurity.

[murstein]

Interestingly enough, the dinner that's cooking is one of the few dishes I make that she enjoys. (Chicken Marengo, as redefined by me.) While we both have class tomorrow, she needs to study more than I do. (I think. We'll see, after my test, if I'm right, or just egotistical. I "blew" the last test, bringing my average all the way down to 96%. ;) )

But yes, skill and urgency and availability all go into the mix.

[groblek]

Sounds normal to me, but then with Sarah and I if one of the two of us were to stay home and keep house, it would probably be me. She's been making more than me for the last couple of years, and I'm the better cook. :) Neither of us tend to let stereotypes guide our interests.

[davefreer]

:-)that sounds like it confirms my statement about my friends