In this blog to date I have tackled a lot of political issues. For this one I decided to discuss traditional gender roles and how our current society has flipped them on their head and in turn created a lot more mental health issues for both men and women. In America's long and storied history women have struggled to find equality to men. From the women's suffrage movement to flooding the workforce women have climbed the ladder to break the glass ceiling keeping them from achieving the equality they seek. In traditional gender roles females have always taken the role of caregiver, homemaker, mother, and the soft side of the family structure. Males have taken the role of provider, financial supporter, and strength in the family. This does not in any way mean that either side could do the duties of the other if they needed too. Why did this arraignment work? The simple answer is natural instincts. Women are naturally more caring and compassionate and men are naturally more emotionally tough.
As a man of faith I do believe that God created men and women to compliment one another. As we have seen the lines of the natural roles get blurred we have also seen a rise in depression, children falling behind before they even start going to school, and less stability in marriages across the country. Until the 1980's women were more likely to stay home with the children. This allowed them to teach their kids to read, write, and speak long before they hit kindergarten. That leg up allowed for greater success in our school systems. It also allowed them to do the hardest job that anyone will ever do, being a mother. That JOB and yes I say job because as mothers women need to be a teacher, cook, nurse, nanny, and many other things that they receive no pay for! So why would that make women happier and more fulfilled than having a career? I think it is because it is their natural instincts.
As the workforce has been more diversified we have also seen a deterioration of our marriage structure. This has created more and more single parent homes which have historically been shown to hurt child growth and increase in bad behavior. The reason marriages have suffered is because in these homes parents work alternating schedules, do not have time to build their relationship, and bring stress and anger home from work and that impacts the relationship. Many men look at women in the workplace as bitchy or sleeping their way to the top. While that is not true for a vast majority women it does cause tension and even resentment by men toward their spouse. When the family structure breaks down and divorce happens that has a huge impact on the children involved. It can lead to depression, anger, and decline in grades and educational goals.
The last major effect of blurring the lines is men, women, and children have seen a steep increase in seeking treatment for depression and other mental disorders. As we have seen the rise of workplace equality and swapping of traditional roles in the household we have also seen the confusion in our children as to how they should be. In the past if a boy was more feminine he wasn't labeled "gay" "trans" or anything else. He was simply left alone to be who he wanted to be! If a girl liked "boy" things she was labeled a tomboy and left to play with the boys. As parents are out of the home children turn to the internet, TV, and their friends for answers to life questions. When mothers were home this children had a source for answers which was set by the parents as a couple. A marriage should be two people that compliment one another and provide the best possible foundation for their children.
Like I said everyone can do what everyone else does and it is ok. My main question in this whole thing is, Is the cost to our children and women worth the baggage hat comes from abandoning traditional roles? I personally do not think it is. All people deserve to be happy and fulfilled. The sad thing is society tells stay at home moms they have no worth because they are not out being a dominant female. I say dominant females raise well educated and respectful children. What do you guys think?
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