Geeky, But Well-Rounded

A friend told me today that I the most well-read person he knew. He then corrected himself and decided that I was very well-read and the most well-rounded person he knew. I found this initially laughable.

A hour later I visited a friend's blog and wrote the following comment to her post about being a housewife. After I wrote this comment, I realized that perhaps my friend is right.

Feminist theory is complex.

Part of feminist theory is that women are seen as defective men. For example, women are "too emotional." We never hear that men aren't emotional enough. Women are judged by a male norm. That's what millenia of patriarchy can do.

I think that there NEEDS to be multiple measures and examples of greatness and success. I think that women who are stay at home mothers are amazing. They are a lot tougher than me. I honor their work. However, I want women to have the opportunity to CHOOSE their path. I don't have a daughter. But if I did, I would want her to feel like she had choices and power. I would want her to feel like a subject--not an object. I would want her to do honorable work--whatever form it may take.

I have a son. I want these things for him. If my son were to want to be a stay at home dad, I would feel like I did an excellent job at his mother as long as that is what he chooses to do.

We want our children to have the confidence and competence to fulfill their potential. Rigid gender roles can erode a person's confidence in my honest opinion. Notice I said can. I do not think that rigid gender roles always erode a person's confidence. It all depends on the individual.

The more that I read about hormones and neurotransmitters and their roles in helping to develop personality/temperament, I am further convinced that rigid gender roles can be damaging. DIfferent brains have different balances resulting in different personality characteristics. It really isn't all about the XX or XY chromosomes and/or social upbringing alone. (I'm a geek. Clearly.)

Housewives are amazing. So are social workers. So are waiters. So are teachers. So are engineers. So are writers. I think it all goes back to something that Steve wrote. People should bless their families and the entire human race. Some women need to enter traditionally male field to help bless the human race. And vice versa.

Being Christ-like can take many forms.

Namaste.

This comment alone reference parts of feminist theory, brain chemistry, Christianity, and Buddhism. Goodness.

I am a geek. Clearly.