Gender Role Compression

I apologize for my extreme tardiness, but I must assert that I am only comfortable providing my best material for this blog. It's important to only share quality, and I will not let a deadline hinder me. Again, I'm sorry for the lack of brain food for everyone as of late, but allow me assuage you with this nugget of discussion.

Today a friend of mine linked this poorly written (at best) article about Rhianna and Chris Brown. It took me a few minutes to even take it seriously, but I surprisingly found a delicious firing of synapses after giving it a chance.

On first read, I thought this woman was batshit. The use of ineffective polls and ignorant phrases like "false pay gaps and oppression that doesn't exist" only dissuade me from believing anything she has to write. But on second read, I discovered there was a valid issue lying between the lines.

That issue is: Have the converging gender roles upset the way we conduct relationships?

No wise person can deny that over the past century women have attained an enormous amount of independence and liberty. Some things gained are: voting rights, public influence (showcased by the near vice presidency), smaller pay gaps (though still not equal), and the ability to get esteemed jobs. I think that's great, as women are people too.

But here's the kicker -- by changing society norms, you change society. As women gain salaries increasingly closer to those of men's, how can we expect the continuance of traditionalist values such as men paying for dates? Simple economics point toward a new type of oppression over men by women if those values are expected. Not to say they will, but pay close attention to the possibility.

On the aspect of women finding masculinity in women because they can't find it in men, I have one question. What is current masculinity? If the previous point of payment on dates is NOT expected, that's one strike out of a man's playbook to impress his mate. What will replace it? Will there be a replacement? Gender roles are slowly disappearing, and most don't believe it is a bad thing. Whether the change is a step toward chaos or liberty, how will we adapt?

And with all this said, remember -- like all human beings -- all relationships are different in style, shape, and priority. Even as human beings move liberally as each day goes by, there are still couples dating in the style of 19th century, as well as couples dating in a fashion no historical trend has shown. It all boils down to attempting the impossible -- pairing two individual humans who don't even understand themselves to understand and care for each other.

Love is complicated.