Ash's Opinion on "The Gender-Bender": Gender Roles in Modern Households

Gender roles today are (naturally) much different than they were fifty years ago. Times change, as do trends in the social sphere. Today, it isn't altogether uncommon to see a father staying home taking care of the offspring, while a mother toddles off to have an ambitious career. In fact, it's already socially acceptable.

I have never been one to follow social norms...in fact, I pride myself on beating them back with an iron fist. This does not, however, mean that my ideals are accepted by everyone. In fact, there is still much debate over how much things have changed since the early 1900s.

Do women still cook and clean?
Are men still the head of the household?
And most importantly: How are future generations being taught to view the positions of man and woman?

As ambiguous as I wish it was, it still seems that consumers on the commercial market still prefer to see women selling "gender-appropriate" products, such as cleaning supplies and healthy food choices. Men, likewise, are seen selling items such as fishing gear and barbecue supplies.
I am a firm believer in the idea that these roles are changing swiftly--and changing for the better. I look forward to the day when a man can remain at home with his children while his wife works, and fill the same effortless role as his wife would have in a like situation. In fact, I think it's extremely good for balanced growth and should be encouraged.

I suppose it's not the concept of traditional roles that annoys me, it's the oppression and confusion that comes from being chained to one way of going about things.

My father, for instance, pisses me off enormously. He is a firm believer in the old-world mentality of "woman cooks and cleans, man hunts and provides". However, his is a rather hypocritical double-standard; he and my mother both have jobs outside of the house. Yet, I have never seen him with a dust rag in his hand--and it is a rarity to find him doing dishes, or vacuuming.

I usually specify very clearly what I desire in a potential life-mate...and if the man that I will eventually call my husband does not understand that chores are a mutually shared position in the household... he will not be marrying me.

In short, I think that the 2010s will continue to bring us men wearing aprons and women wearing very swanky business suits--thank god.

I am gladly looking forward to a bright and bountiful future for sexually-ambiguous household roles.


Till next time
Keep it classy, doves!
Ash.