A contradiction in the liberal view of gender

[shadow]

Good luck with that, when it comes to gender, Shadow.  You'll need it.

Thanks?

Funny thing about gender constructs, we don;t usually recognize when the gender construct is arbitrary - not a stereotype..just flat out arbitrary.  You, for example...opined on spiders.  That betrays a gender construct in your own mind.

I don't understand your last sentence. Could you clarify?

"Im a girl, but" - but what?  The but is the construct - and it still exists even if you don;t happen to be afraid of spiders.  You mention that because it plays oin you.  In your experience, are girls afraid of spiders?  Is that somehow stereotypical of the sex..or might that be manufactured?  Might it be arbitrary?

Ben said that. I don't think it's an accurate stereotype, whether it has any validity to him would depend on his own experience. Stereotypes are by definition a very imprecise form of judgement. I'd agree it's hard to distinguish between when stereotypes have any inherent validity and when they form a sort of self fulfilling prophecy.