Where traditional gender roles largely for the sake of the children?
Someone recently said that the children are the ones losing the most (and I do agree)
Having said that were the traditional views on gender and responsibilities largely for the sake of the children?
Will today's kids end up less healthy than their predecessors?
2008-06-26T09:42:04Z
sorry for the misspell Wendy. How do we know men felt women were stupid and that's why the gender roles were set up that way? It seems the women of the time participated pretty actively in accepting the way it was then.
How can everything 'get done' when both parents work full time?
I mean in the way it was thought that men work outside the home and a woman's job (at least once she had kids) was to work full time in the home. It seems to me if you can give something your full attention (being home for the kids when they get off school, being home in their early years, etc) you can do a better job.
2008-06-26T09:45:21Z
Actually instructing children (even in very simple rules) is an exhaustive, ever ending job that require constant repetition. Working full time and raising kids is a little overwhelming to say the least.
Anonymous2008-06-26T10:28:31Z
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More for the family unit ,but most certainly for the benefit of the kids.
I view it as a form of specialization, Dad specialized in running the farm or ranch ( while after industrialization) working outside the home and bringing home money. Mom, specialized in managing the home, kids and food.
Now, no one manages the home, kids are managed by strangers and food is microwaved or picked up at a window.
Take a look around, kids have been suffering from the lack of a traditional family unit since the 70's.
If your family resembled a traditional unit feel fortunate.
Louise C & Ericktra raise some valid points. Modern Society has disdain for the Traditional Family, but have yet to replace it with a superior alternative. If new alternative familes are better if not equal to the traditional one. Why has there been a deterioration in family morals? It has been said that families function on two virtues, "love & loyalty". Both of these are in short supply. What people fail to undersatnd or accept is that America was founded on Christian beliefs. That isn't an opinion, it's a fact. Gender roles were established by the Bible and have been around for at least 2000 years if not more. Modern women give men too much credit to think that we could raise children as well as you. Women have instincts that men just don't have. My mother taught me love and kindeness. My Father taught me taught me honor, respect and gave me my manhood. Everything we know about raising children, we learn from you. Children have been the biggest losers of these new type of family units. My answer is from my Mexican Roman Catholic backdround.
Many of the problems modern children face probably have more to do with lack of parenting rather than non-traditional roles, but I do think that some things are best taught by the same-sex parent.
There's still a debate going on about whether or not children need a parent at home to look after them; my personal belief is that they develop best with a strong attachment figure, and I also think that if you have children you should also be around to raise them if you can. That parent doesn't necessarily have to be the mother though; I think a SAHD could be just as good at the job.
I just feel that the only people who are never included in the debate are children, even though it affects them most.
My grandmother was a very creative person who was forced into a traditional housewife role. She grew despondent and depressed and was an angry, unsupportive mother to her children. My own mother learned from this mistake and worked when I was growing up, and shared equal child-rearing responsibilities with my dad. As a result, I had a wonderful childhood and am close to both my parents. I think that it just depends on the person. If being in a traditional role works, well, the beauty of modern society is that you can do that. If you don't want to fill a traditional role, it's better for everyone if you don't. Just do what works for you and makes you happy. As far as kids being neglected, part of shifting gender roles is that while women don't devote their entire day to raising kids, men in turn spend more time with them. I think that a healthy balance of both parents is best, myself (my dad was a great cook!).
Traditional gender roles were there because that's the way it was, and no one had any nerve to do anything about it. It was a way for men to keep control. For, whoever has the money, also has the control. But times have changed. Now both parents are working and still having to be parent and employee. I think that if they are still taking care of their kids, there should be no problem.
But the majority of kids nowadays are lacking in basic manners, and knowledge; such as respect your elders, and say please and thank you. It doesn't take that long to teach your kids the things they need to learn; whether you are working or not. Parents are just using work as an excuse to be lazy in disciplining and guiding their kids. They can do both, and both can be done. Seems like parents nowadays don't want to.
edit: It can. Me and mine do it, and so do many others. If we concentrate on "how?" and not "we are doing it", then it will never happen. Positive minds think on what can. Yes, it can be exhausting at times. But so is the whole "stay at home" thing. That's dreadfully exhausting. But we gotta do what we gotta do. I'm not trying to judge anyone here, just telling my point of view, and how I do it.
There are a lot of women who can throw a football very well. You'd be surprised. And they're hot too.