Gender Roles

[Whateverist]

I agree with Shell that what matters is what the people in the relationship want it to be. My wife and I make no assumptions, every task and routine has to be negotiated. But once decisions are made it becomes as smooth as anyone in a traditional division of labor.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

People need to stop setting behavioral criteria's for others, mind their own damn business and stop being judgemental. Problem solved. Everyone's happy.

[Whateverist]

Are you objecting to my exercising my freedom of expression regarding what others ought to do? Man you are so judgmental.

[Thumpalumpacus]

It depends what the task is really. If it's something mental, or physical, or artistic, or inspirational, or challenging, or complicated, or important, then men are better at it. If it's buying more clothes than are necessary or moving things from one pile of stuff to another for no apparent reason, then call in the B squad.

You left out an important task - putting out...

He forgot driving, too.

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Regarding the OP, I've always looked for a partnership of equals in my love life. If she does task A better than I do, it's hers, and i do something else to cover one of her shortfalls. We split my son's infancy 50/50 -- we took turns night-by-night for the midnight feedings and diaper changes, etc. The only exception in our time living together was trash ... I don't like the idea of my woman taking out the trash, odd as that surely sounds.

And though I was the better driver, we split that 50/50 as well ... over my objections.

[rado84]

I don't think men and women are the same. I don't think one is superior to the other, mind you, but I do think there are differences between men and women that go beyond just the outward physical appearances. Don't studies show that their brains are different as well?

They are different. They are so different that at some point it becomes too obvious. There's even a Bulgarian joke about that which I'll try to translate:

An American biker went on a tour in Europe. God decided he was righteous enough to grant him one free wish. He spoke to him:
- You are righteous and for this reason I decided to grant you one free wish. Say what you want!
The biker answered:
- I want you to make a bridge that connects the States with Europe.
- Oooh, - god said - do you have any idea how much wood and steel will be necessary to build it? It won't be good for the planet. Why don't you ask for something else?
The biker took some time to think then said:
- I want you to make it so that every man on Earth be able to understand women.
Now it was god's turn to do some thinking. Eventually he asked the biker:
- How long do you want that bridge to be?

[A Theist]

I think men and women are the same.  I think it just depends on the person.

People say men and women are different purely to justify promiscuity and cheating in men. 

Evolutionary psychology says that men evolved to seek a variety of fertile, young, attractive women for sex. 

I've loved only one woman for the past 45 years. Just hope my wife don't find out.

[Shell B]

I can perform minor repairs on cars, took welding in school, am pretty tall, swear like a trucker and have been called a lesbian more times than I can count.

In reference to the OP, I don't think it should be 50/50, either. I think it should be however the people in the relationship want it to be. Maybe a woman or man doesn't want to learn to protect themselves or sew a blanket. Who cares? I do a lot of more traditionally male things around our house. We are nowhere near 50/50 when it comes to gender roles. We just kind of do what comes naturally to us.

Yeah, you got it, you be you!

I hope you quoted me because you realized that I agree with you.

It would be better if we didn't use gender roles to fuck with each other. In my house we try to do what we are good at. I do much of the cooking, my wife hates cooking! I hate laundry so she does that. Quite often she will ask me to do the fixing stuff around the house and I ask her if a penis is required for the task. It is kind of a joke but we both realize how old fashioned we can be. "Penis task" is my way of saying, "You are only asking me to do this thing because of socially established norms. If you were really a feminist you would get the drill and hang that thing yourself." Whatever, as long as shit gets done.  

Plus I dance as gracefully as a swan!

Yep! Totally agree with you and saw you agree with me too. It's fucking stupid that men and women are considered queer if they do things that are more traditionally assigned to the other role.

[vorlon13]

and then there's my tribe and I doing things previously unknown to either gender . . .

[Whateverist]

and then there's my tribe and I doing things previously unknown to either gender . . .

Weirdo.  

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

I always take my bro out for food, movie etc and rarely spend any money on girls , my friends used to make jokes about me being gay for my bud but meh idc I love the dude more than any girl I've ever known..