Gender Roles

I do believe that men and women are extremely different.  However, I believe that we are much more alike than we realize.  Now days, a woman can choose any career that she wants.  I guess in a way, I am a feminist.  I do believe that there are major differences between men and women, but I believe those differences to be more divinely associated.

Society often pushes for boys to be one way and girls to be another.  Many people look at the times when they grew up and try to raise their children in the styles that they were raised. However, society and people are much different now than they used to be.  It's acceptable for a woman to work and not stay home with her children.  I believe that this also depends on what part of the world or even the United States you live in.  In the Samoan culture, men wears "skirts" known as lava lavas.  In their culture, this is completely acceptable.  If a man were to walk around Rexburg, Idaho with a skirt on, he would be judged in a second.  I believe that the real issue that we are struggling with is acceptance.  People are not willing to accept that the world is changing and it is becoming more acceptable for women to do things that were strictly for men.

I really don't think that there are certain responsibilities that should be strictly for your sons or strictly for your daughters.  Growing up, none of my siblings or myself had a list of chores.  When something needed to be done or we were asked to do something, we just did it.  If we would complain, my mom would say, "You live here just as much as the rest of us and you are a part of this family just as much as the rest of us are, so, you need to help."  After she said this, we knew she was right so we really couldn't argue with it.  The only defense we could think of was "But that's not mine." and she would tell us that we need to serve others out of love.  As a child, this taught me to love others and brought a deep sense of compassion into me.

What do you think? Does gender really make a difference in your family relationships or how you were raised?