Wednesday, April 6, 2011
No perfect equation
This week in class I was challenged to begin thinking further how gender roles are present in my daily life. It is the truth that everyday there is something that is dominated by the presence of gender role specificity. In class we analyzed the books written by the Eldredge's, Wild at Heart and Captivating. I can tell you honestly that both books are held on my family's book shelf int he family room and I have never thought deeply about this meaning until this weeks class. I feel as that these two books give me A. something to strive to become more like, a goal to work towards and B. a better understanding of what life is like for a man. But after this week I have begun to read them much critically than ever before. I have realized these books are not the depiction of every man or woman that each person has a different story and thus a different set of feelings. Not every person is going to fit the mold of what these books cast. Even though I feel as if I can relate to the books in many ways that does not mean that they are a check list of who I should become as a woman. They can be a way to gain advice or something to use as a guide but by no means a list of how to become the perfect wife-like candidate. One thing that bothers me is that people are criticizing these books very harshly and can often times push people who do fit the population that the books speak of into feeling that they are wrong. This is awful and should by no means be happening at all. We should not be telling anyone that they are wrong in the way of their feelings, who are we to do this. There will be people who fit these molds set forth by the book then those who don't. No matter which you are you do not need to persuade that other that they are wrong or that they should be on your side. Each person was made unique and in the image of God so who are we to tell them that they should be more like us. There is not a set equation that will give the answer of a perfect man or woman because it is different for each person. Thus, we should let people who fit the gender role stereotypes live in that way and for those who feel confined or constricted by them live your own way. You are free to make your own decisions and decide on your own how to live your life.
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Sophia's Blog Post:
ReplyDeleteThis week in class we talked about the books Captivating and Wild At Heart. The Eldredges wrote these two books as examples of how to become a Godly man and a Godly woman. Wild At Heart says that men are adventure seekers with a wild spirit and that they need to learn how to defend themselves to be real men. This book placed a stereotype on men that some would find hard to accept. Captivating, on the other side of the coin, says that women are all waiting for their prince to come and sweep them off their feet. It also says that a woman’s purpose is to arouse the man. The problem people have with these two books is that every man and every woman does not necessary fit this stereotype. Some men would rather not fight out an argument in order to prove their dominance or learn to protect themselves. They may choose to turn the other cheek instead. Some women cringe at the identity of a princess waiting for a prince. They may instead wish to view themselves as independent and strong. Though the Eldredges were trying to help define some of the roles existing in our Christian society and give direction on how to maneuver these roles, they did not account for those that do not want to fill these roles and instead wish to feel accepted for living differently.