The issue of gender roles is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why I've never felt comfortable with religion and God in general. In the Old Testament, it's pretty strict when it comes to the issue of how Men and Women are supposed to behave. Here's a few verses that illustrate that: Deuteronomy 22:5 - The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. Genesis 3:16 - To the woman he said, I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. Even the New Testament has a few: 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 - The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Ephesians 5:22-23 - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,... In those sample verses, it's made clear that God doesn't take kindly to Women who have a mind of their own as well as those who have traits of the opposite sex. Even though the Bible seems to be clear on these things, are such roles still necessary today? Would God even care? For example, I have a lot of Christian friends who are women, traditionally feminine, and have admitted they'd like a husband to lead them in the household. Yet these women speak their mind and are opinionated, depending on the topic. Would God have a problem with these women? What about Men who ignore these traditional roles? If a Man becomes a stay at home dad out of choice or for financial reasons, is he sinning? What if a male individual is naturally more nurturing and soft rather than being rugged or masculine? Would God punish this individual for normal behaviors that come natural to him? On the issue of clothing, let's consider that Male and Female garments are different across cultures and have changed throughout history. In the Old Testament days, Men wore robes that would be considered dresses in modern day America. Many men in eastern cultures wear tunics and robes which would be considered female attire in the Western world. Are these men condemned, even if they believe in God? If I were a Christian, would God condemn me because I wear brightly colored skinny jeans and because I don't act traditionally male? If God exists, would he be this strict about gender roles and gender expression still? Or would he have a more tolerant view, due to modern context? I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter.
If you don't wear First Century clothes prepare to swim in the lake of fire. I've seen teen age girls go to Catholic mass in shorts. It seems to be acceptable.
So far the two responses to this thread ignore the scriptures. Blackrook must be joining Wyrd in the opinion that they can simply be ignored when considering the true wishes of God. Perhaps that is the reason this thread has gotten so little traction. Too hot to handle.
God created men and women with obvious biological/physiological/emotional differences. More relevantly, this applies to marriage. Like Paul alludes to, Man is meant to be the head of the household, the relatively dominant and masculine side. Woman is meant to be the caretaker of the household, the sensitive and nurturing side. This duality is what keeps us together, its what God (or nature if you are secular) intended, what builds the best societies, and quite frankly, it just works. No, you won't be punished for living contrary to this. Your marriage/family simply won't be as successful as it would have been if you just followed the natural way.
Have you considered this concept from the opposite direction? What benefit could come from the established gender roles? Why do they exist in the first place?
That may be the dominant role pattern, but it isn't necessarily the "natural" role assignment for particular individuals. Success is realized by finding one's personal role and honoring it and following it. The idea that one needs to force oneself into the dominant role assignments in spite of one's own reality is what causes problems, or as you would put it, a lack of "success".
In view of the other thread you started, I would highly recommend you check out the role assignments for gender in the Mormon church before you get too comfortable in the pew.
On a personal level perhaps, since that is subjective. I was referring to the family unit and society as a whole. Traditional gender roles produce the best families, most stable children, and stable societies. Force? Hardly. The thing about the natural order is that its well....natural... The majority don't really need to force themselves to do it..It just happens.. To the contrary, it is often (not always) brainwashing from outside sources that cause many otherwise normal, masculine males to become effeminate or androgynous.
Citation? I don't need a citation to say that most men are naturally masculine and most women are naturally feminine. Its biology.
No, He merely gives us leave to condemn ourselves by cleaving to lies, and, by implication, their father.
And I see you've backed this up with zero sources. Evidence? Because I've seen a lot of evidence that gay relationships give straight people a run for their money. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/dec/12/lesbian-mothers-my-two-mums http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/lgplgparents.html
But you do need one to back up your silly brainwashing argument. I was not speaking about majorities. I was speaking of the individual that does not naturally conform to the societally accepted norms of gender behavior. They would have to force themselves to conform, and that would not be in the least bit "natural".
I have to disagree with you here. Gender roles are still largely enforced on kids who step out of line with the norm. I doubt there's much brainwashing going on as you say there is. Although I will say that masculinity is kind of frowned upon by some people, if that's what you mean.
