Roles

So what defines a man? What defines a woman? I can't say that I know the answer for sure, which is why I'm throwing out the question. And considering myself to be a feminist, or gender-equalist rather, I've thought about this question more lately. Because after all, women can now go rock-climbing, be astronauts and engineers, etc. (And I had learned that research shows that women who display more adrogenous behaviors are more happy and satisfied.) So now being a woman doesn't mean just working as a teacher, staying at home with the kids and leisure time only involving shopping. So what does define a man and a woman in a relationship, if these days more and more men are staying home, and more and more women are doing more of both professional and leisure stereotypical male activities?

Maybe trying to define the two isn't necessary. All that matters is that two people are in a mutually-loving and egalitarian relationship, being partners in life. Being pregnant certainly cannot define being a woman in the relationship, because that marginalizes homosexual relationships. Lesbians are still women, and gays are still men, if that's how they choose to identify themselves.

But don't get me wrong, in no WAY is it completely equal for men and women in all areas; we still have a long way to go. One example is in the area of dating. My sister and I were watching old episodes of Sex in the City (I admit, I cringe a tad whenever I admit to doing mainstream culture stuff. ;) ). But there's an observation in one show: if men do bold gestures toward women, it's generally considered romantic, but if women do them toward men, it's more considered desperate, or sometimes neurotic.

I really resent that. I've never been the flirtatious type who waits for guys to ask me out. And if guys want to be in control in that regard, then too bad for them. I've accepted that I won't be dating that much by not flouting my breasts or giggling more. I choose to be true to myself, which sometimes involves picking up the phone and asking someone out.

And if you're a guy who'd turn me down because you wanted to do the asking, then you're missing out on going out with a sexy, intelligent, funny, and caring woman.