Interesting - I've never related gender to Christmas before. One thing I'd like to point out regarding your two arguments: they are both correct, but my favourite is the second one, the empirical one. Not only because I think that the empirical argument for inherent gender difference can be established by engaging in five minutes of careful observation at any crowded dinner party - but because the empirical argument, too, exposes a circularity. Feminists complain that societies are patriarchal, but I've never heard a compelling rationale for this hegemonic patriarchy that doesn't involve innate gender difference. Why else would different cultures all around the world, at basically any time period imaginable, arbitrarily espouse belief systems that validate and sometimes even exacerbate innate gender difference? Why wouldn't we all just be "the same"? ... unless we just aren't. But if we aren't, the myth of gender difference was first initiated because of, um, gender difference. Circularity, anyone?
I'm not following your last line. If we aren't the same, then there is no "myth of gender difference." Could you clarify?
It's true that gender and Christmas aren't often related. I just thought: I can sort of see how the general populace has bought into feminism; it fits quite well into the relativism of the post-modern paradigm. But Christians who are thinking carefully about the fall and about their salvation will have to reject the idea that gender differences are inconsequential.
Realistically, if the male leadership that is present in our society was reflective of that of Christ, the sacrificial leader who thought of others before Himself, feminism would lose most of its following.
When many women express frustration over the social construction of gender roles, it is due to the general acceptance of our society towards sexist and discriminatory behaviour by some men and some women also. These sexist attitudes have been socially constructed and are perpetuated through generations by society at large.
One example I read about was, if a man was in a group setting with only other men, and then one of the group members tells a sexist joke. Say there is at least one man in the group who doesn’t appreciate or agree with sexist jokes. It is more acceptable at this time for him to smile and walk away then for him to say,“guys jokes like that are not healthy or true, they break down our relationships with women and our wives”. Our society in general does not support or encourage men to speak up against sexism, rather is seen as weak or too sensitive.
The other part of the social construction of gender roles that is wearisome to women is the idea that women must perform their role within a certain behavioural framework. One Prof gave the example of (I believe it was) Alexa McDonagh. Alexa made a good, but aggressive argument in parliament. The next day the political cartoon had her depicted as some type of dog, making a snarling speech. The broader implications of depicting a woman as a dog are not missed and it is acceptable (in our society) to publish that in the news paper. Society agrees that women can be political leaders but how they conduct themselves still must fit into a constructed gender role (women should make their speeches in a gentle manner, but it is ok for men to raise their voice and shout), even if it would be more effective for a woman to use some ‘male’ conduct to make her point.
In general men become very defensive when the topic of sexism and feminism comes up even though most men are not sexist, female beating or abusive, why is this?
As for all the other points in your post.....I agree, gender roles are important, significant and created by God. The negative treatment toward women and the general acceptance of sexist talk (both socially constructed and not innate) are not created or supported by God.
I agree completely Petra. Actually my thinking about feminism and every other -ism is that they generally are the wrong solution to a real problem. That's why these movements are not all bad, and when they happen the church needs to wake up and look at the real social problems that have caused this.
So feminism is not all bad - it identified a real problem - but often the -isms advocate a solution that attempts to swing the pendulum back the other way, instead of looking to the truth of God's word. Isms in general are rooted in human wisdom and are attempts to grapple with social problems but usually create as many problems as they solve.
Hm, yes, let me see. Well, it's clear that we're not the same, one way or another, is what I meant: the question is whether that's because of intrinsic or indoctrinated gender difference. So even if you argue that it's the latter, the roots of said indoctrination would seem to be the fact of innate gender difference. I certainly don't deny the presence of harmful and sexist and indoctrinating gender stereotypes; I just deny that everything that separates males and females can be attributed to that.
For the rest, I agree with you and Petra. I think occupations and such should be considered on the basis of gender as little as possible. Rather than factoring gender into the equation, better to just select whomever is most qualified for the position. Unfortunately, that's not always what happens.
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