Are you perfectly OK with a s/o that is not totally feminine? (Or masculine in regards to men)?

Interesting discussions around here...I don't get into nor really care for the MRA stuff, but am curious what people think in here.

My wife and I are both good at manual labor with tools, whether it's on cars. gardening, repairs and DIY projects around the house, etc. I didn't have to teach it to her, she was an only child of farmers so had to basically learn to help them with their livelihood. However, I know I get some grief because my wife is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Just today, both she and I are changing oil in our respective cars when our neighbor comes across the street to offer an invitation to their anniversary party. She is a wife and stay-at-home mom and the husband pretty much takes care of everything (working, projects, etc). She asks her if she's always changed oil, and my wife says yes. Our neighbor gets that bizarre smile on her face, one that says, "Ick, I'm glad I'm not that type of person." I interpreted it that way, anyway.

Up until recently, we've always had the idea of men being one way, and women being the other. Men, are you OK with a woman that is not that prototype girly-girl (for lack of a better phrase)? And ladies, if your man doesn't quite know his way around a tool-box, is that OK with you as well?

Tygerlyli2014-06-01T14:42:15Z

Favorite Answer

My husband always told me one of the reasons he loves me is because I can be one of the guys.

I'm not saying I'm not also really feminine at times, and I do fit a lot of the standard female gender roles (stay at home, loves the color purple, I'm a caregiver and a nurturer) but I love to go shooting, and paint balling, I like rude humor and I can talk trash, I'm the first person to pull out a screwdriver and take off the handrail when moving furniture upstairs, I can hang with the guys with my gender being noticed.

Personally, I am more attracted to men like my husband, who are more masculine, but for friends and family, I have male friends that will curl up and watch greys anatomy with me, and female friends that go rock climbing me with.

I think its awesome when people are able to do what makes them happy, even if it isn't typical. I have a close friend, who is a working mom, while her husband is a stay at home dad, and you can just see how well it works for them, how could you not love that?

pedaldemon2014-06-01T21:33:23Z

I feel that everyone be they male or female, should be able to look after themselves. The simple jobs like change a lightbulb, programme the washing machine, change oil, unblock a drain, rewire a plug, paper a wall, hang a picture... all those things. I'd be more disappointed if a woman I had a relationship with expected me to do all that for her, I'd like to do it, but I'd also like to know she could do it herself if I wasn't around.

?2014-06-01T21:31:59Z

I like women to act feminine around me, because it makes *me* feel masculine and protective around them, if they are feminine.

I do not like women to be physically stronger than me. That is a huge turn off.

I usually like my girlfriends to do typically feminine things like cooking for me or getting me a drink, while I do physically demanding jobs or lift heavy weights.

Dont Call Me Dude2014-06-01T22:55:09Z

If my s/o has two X chromosomes, she's feminine enough for me.