[lovelyivy84]

Originally posted by James
I can't be more specific because I am relating other people's experiences and impresions.

But I thought the topic to be pointed enough that it might spark some discourse on changing gender roles. Maybe the thread should have been just: changing gender roles in relationships.

I know that men over the last few decades have gone through a lot of role confusion and upheaval as to how we are supposed to behave in relation to women.

Some skills we have never been noted for (communication ability) but suddenly seems to be demand, whereas other behaviors such as door openings, tradtional date set-ups etc have become different also.

In fact the expectations seem to be different enough on both sides that there are some real problems. And the media complicates it. Certainly Cosmo is enough to make anyone neurotic.

Gender roles... well it's hard to decribe the change because it is different for everyone. I know women who firmly believe that the man is the head of the family and that is their perogative. I know women who have no place in their lives, or are unwilling to make those places to accomodate a man. And that is their decision too. Gender roles haven't changed for everyone, and yet for others have done a 180.

I guess that you can say the change in roles has been the developement of the ability to choose what it will be rather than have it dictated to you by social mores.