Some interesting quotes about gender roles from wikipedia, that may have a subconcious effect on relationships... (dating, women)

[Phoenix2017]

Some interesting quotes about gender roles and masculinity, etc. from wikipedia, that may perhaps have a subconcious, pre-bias social conditioning effect on romantic relationships in general (with bold, underline, and italic font styles added for emphasis of factors that particularly fascinate me personally)...

The question that came to me when I read many of these quotes was, how would romantic relationships be fundamentally different if these societal norms were *not* continually and actively culturally-reinforced? For example, just to speculate, would anything be substantially different in the absense of these gender role structures, do you think? If so, what do you think would be different, and how?

From Sociology of gender - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The media perpetuates the idea of hetero-masculinity by portraying men as dominant.[2] Men and women in the United States are influenced by the media which objectifies and oppresses women, and men who don’t fall into the heteronormative category.[3]

Both men and women are oppressed in the media. Women are oppressed in the media through musical lyrics that discuss violence, distrust, and overall inferiority to men. Through the media, men are taught to be ultra-masculine by being desensitized, violent, and physically strong.[4] Other forms of media that often portray the ultra-masculine figure are advertisements, specifically beer commercials. These forms encourage men to oppress other men if they do not fit the ideals of heteromasculinity.[5]

These differences are epitomized in the example of children’s toys; G.I. Joe dolls depict the physical ideals for boys and Barbie dolls embody the ideals for girls. The Beauty Myth, as discussed in Naomi Wolf’s book The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women, refers to the unattainable standard of beauty for women, which sustains consumer culture. In contrast, men’s bodies are also “dictated” by cultural ideals of gender, as is evident in consumer culture—especially beer commercials—in which men are portrayed as outdoorsy, tough, strong, and “manly.”[19]

The dominant form of masculinity in a society is known as hegemonic masculinity. Men are constantly performing this to prove their status as men. It is not really possible to reach it, especially as peers are in constant surveillance of each other, looking for flaws in their performance. Hegemonic masculinity is constructed in opposition to femininity and is dominant to all other gender identities (including alternative masculinities). Men are socialized from birth to perform it, especially through behavior and symbolism

Some of the prominent attitudes and behaviors of western hegemonic masculinity are: power, sexual dominance and activity, wealth, aggression, independence, and lack of emotion.

Hegemonic masculinity is often reproduced and reinforced through media and culture. “Media representations of men…often glorify men’s use of physical force, a daring demeanor, virility, and emotional distance.”

Masculinity is a performed gender identity. Contrary to popular perception, it is not the same as sex or sexual orientation. The contents and practices of masculinity are socially constructed and reproduced through daily interaction, especially on a more micro scale

From Gender variance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Gender variance among men usually attracts more teasing, ostracism and violence than gender variance among women. Many sociologists who’ve studied this area of expertise believe this is because the female gender role and social status have been essentially devalued in conservative Western societies, and women traditionally been considered the lesser gender would have a male endanger his gender role and social status should he engage in gender variance.

For men, gender variance is usually repressed and punished. However, gender variance exhibited in childhood tends to diminish by adolescence, due to secondary sex characteristics and because of the limited identities men are faced with in adulthood. Heterosexual ideals of manhood include an interest in physically demanding activities, sports, technology, [and] a muscular body shape... Therefore in hopes of succeeding in the last ideal of gender conformity, it is required for men to show and provide these qualities in order to expect or achieve a female romance or sexual partner

From Masculinity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Masculinity is not a conscious process; it is perpetuated through social institutions and is enforced and policed through individual interactions

While the military, for example, has a vested interest in constructing and promoting a specific form of masculinity, it does not create it from scratch and masculinity has influenced the creation of the military in the first place.[7]

According to Arran Stibbe (2004), men's health problems and behaviors can be linked to the socialized gender role of men in our culture. In exploring magazines, he found that they promote traditional masculinity and claims that, among other things, men's magazines tend to celebrate "male" activities and behavior such as admiring guns, fast cars, sexually libertine women, and reading or viewing pornography regularly. In men's magazines, several "ideal" images of men are promoted, and that these images may even entail certain health risks.

[H]egemonic masculinity is not only seen in men but it is clear among young children in school as well. This concept invokes a leading way of doing gender relations that implements the gender order status quo by raising the general status of masculine qualities over feminine qualities. The idea of hegemonic masculinity in the context of young boys is used to re-create gender order in childhood play where the general ideas of men's dominance are learned and reinforced.[citation needed]

[2mares]

The question that came to me when I read many of these quotes was, how would romantic relationships be fundamentally different if these societal norms were *not* continually and actively culturally-reinforced? For example, just to speculate, would anything be substantially different in the absense of these gender role structures, do you think? If so, what do you think would be different, and how?

Yes. Relationships would change according to the new societal norms.
My 11 yr. old newphew was asked what he wanted to do with his life, career wise. He shrugged his shoulders, meh, thats the womans job, was his answer.
His father had not worked since he was 3 or 4 due to "a bad back" so his mother has been the breadwinner, parent, maid, cook, etc. which seem to be fairly common these days. Regardless of the media, what this kid knows is what he sees which is quite different than old definitions of gender roles.

[hunters4life]

Originally Posted by 2mares

Yes. Relationships would change according to the new societal norms.
My 11 yr. old newphew was asked what he wanted to do with his life, career wise. He shrugged his shoulders, meh, thats the womans job, was his answer.
His father had not worked since he was 3 or 4 due to "a bad back" so his mother has been the breadwinner, parent, maid, cook, etc. which seem to be fairly common these days. Regardless of the media, what this kid knows is what he sees which is quite different than old definitions of gender roles.

Agreed, gender roles are changing. I have dated/known very few men who adhere to the standard definition of "masculine". They identified more with their mothers then their fathers.

[zentropa]

The next generation will see many more women taking the top jobs and many more men raising the children at home. It will become more about what individuals feel most comfortable doing rather than gender roles.

[onihC]

I wonder if courtship gender roles will also change someday.

[2mares]

Originally Posted by onihC

I wonder if courtship gender roles will also change someday.

They already are.

[hunters4life]

Courtship gender roles are already changing. I dont think they will ever flip, but equal effort, time, money etc will be put in by women during the dating process.

I always go dutch on the first date. If my bf and I go to dinner and a movie, one pays for the dinner the other for the movie. Many relationships are like this, many women are offering and men are happily accepting the change.

[Mister-H]

So sick of people encouraging men to be less than manly. Stop promoting this metro/homosexual/alternative B-S. Being manly isn't a crime. And a woman being feminine doesn't make her weak. Gender roles are way out of wack in this country.

[Mister-H]

Originally Posted by 2mares

Yes. Relationships would change according to the new societal norms.
My 11 yr. old newphew was asked what he wanted to do with his life, career wise. He shrugged his shoulders, meh, thats the womans job, was his answer.
His father had not worked since he was 3 or 4 due to "a bad back" so his mother has been the breadwinner, parent, maid, cook, etc. which seem to be fairly common these days. Regardless of the media, what this kid knows is what he sees which is quite different than old definitions of gender roles.

This is different. Sorry, but this kid's dad is a loser.

[Phoenix2017]

Originally Posted by Mister-H

So sick of people encouraging men to be less than manly. Stop promoting this metro/homosexual/alternative B-S. Being manly isn't a crime. And a woman being feminine doesn't make her weak. Gender roles are way out of wack in this country.

I guess my own personal thoughts on the matter are that ideally, there should be room on both sides of the aisle, and for men to be able to experience all of the possible forms of their masculinity I have no problems at all with more conventionally-masculine, more "manly-type" men...all my best wishes and luck to them, in life and romantic love! However, at the same time, in a theoretical perfect world, it just seems to me that there should also be nothing wrong, if a man should decide he wants to overtly and outwardly express certain qualities more typically associated as "feminine" -- for example, to express feelings of love openly, to be caring and affectionate and gentle to others, both romantically and non-romantically, and to be in tune and comfortable with expressing his (positive) emotions, such as kindness and tenderness.