A rant on gender stereotypes

[Regina]

They annoy me too, if they are enforced on people. I don't see anything wrong with men wanting to be masculine with traditionally male roles, or women who want to be feminine. The problem is when these qualities are held at a premium, and used to set very high standards for what males and females are "supposed" to be.

I just don't see how it affects people. You're a male who thinks that men shouldn't cry, ok good for you, don't cry then. It doesn't affect you when other men do, especially if they take themselves off to do it quietly. To me it's one of those situations where, ok you might feel a particular way about it, but what harm is it doing to you that you need to comment? A woman cutting her hair short doesn't affect you, a fem-presenting man wearing androgynous clothing does not affect you.

Also, yes there are biological differences between men and women, but what's that got to do with being able to fix a tyre, or knit, or wearing a blouse? Ancient humans weren't doing any of those so it's irrelevant. Women aren't physically weaker either, I don't know where we get that from. Look at any animal species. If you threaten a baby animal, 9 times out of 10 it will be the mother with her fangs in your neck. Protecting the young takes strength and keen awareness skills. Our female ancestors would have been doing that too, while they were living out in the wild before we had cities. It's only become a "fact" that women are weaker because it's hammered into us, so we believe it and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.