gender issues
POSTED AT 08:42 PM

cruboy

"male and female represent the two sides of the great radical dualism. but in fact, they are perpetually passing into one another. fluid hardens to solid, solid rushes to fluid. there is no wholly masculine man, no purely feminine woman." - mfuller

a friend of mine aired a question to the group of guys and girls a few days ago.  equality or chivalry.  an interesting question really.

chivalry (shiv-al-ri) n. courtesy and considerate behavior, specially towards weaker persons.

the notion of chivalry of course has some chauvinism in play... being that the knight in shining armor would come to the aid of the damsel in distress. displaying somehow a type of dominant and submissive role... the stronger and weaker sex. after careful thought about this arrangement, the very idea of typecasting roles is its advantage and weakness all at the same time. the idea of typecasting brings focus and purpose for both male and female role, not to mention less confusion... the disadvantage however lies in the varying expectations and idealism of this role, if one has to play a part, then it should be true to line and script or the whole romantic theatrical show will become for not.

equality (ee-kwol-i-tee) n. being equal.  condition of having the same rights or status.

equality on the other hand is a different matter all together... it took awhile for the women's right and liberation to be recognized in a predominantly patriarchal society, but the labor of such long struggle is somehow now paying off... but is it really.  i find the idea of male and female equality rather contradictory... it is like saying melons and bananas are the same kind of fruits.  absolute equality between sexes is not only biologically impossible but socially as well.  one will have some sort of advantage one way over the other.

there seems to be confusion with the existence of these two idea... equality and chivalry, there are no lines drawn in between, so i for one am not sure where i am currently standing, somehow there is this balance that needs to be achieved... too much equality can get you accused of ungentle manly or calloused or insensitive or disrespectful or even being gay... too much chivalry complex can get you accused of chauvinism or trying hard or attention grabbing or not surprisingly being maniac. 

equality is a myth and chivalry is dead... i have heard this time and again... so what do we have left... nothing but mixed up gender roles.

 

 

Reading: nothing again...
Listening to: help - howie day
Watching: dawson's creek season 3
Feeling: restless