cont'd ...

As for men no being unable to go to university today?
My children, and those of my family and friends don't
have problems in that area. I guess we can only speak
from our own personal experiences. Of course grades
play a big part in this equation.

I take it, Lexi, that you believe the West's current paradigm is part of an ongoing trajectory continuing unobstructed away from all the "old ways".

Most of the rest of human experience in the world at present is still modelled along traditional lines - and we ourselves have only adjusted these roles since the Industrial Revolution, with a huge jump since WWII in our technological advancement.

I wonder if such this alteration in our societal model (something so recent in comparison to the vastness of human experience on this planet) is sustainable beyond current economic exigencies?

Dear Poirot,

New economic roles have brought women greater equality
with men and also many fresh opportunities, particularly
the chance to experience careers and achievement in the
world beyond the home. But working women have not simply
traded their housework for a career: rather, many have
taken on two jobs - one at home, one at work. Also women
who looked forward to having it all are finding that the
rigors of pursuing their careers, maintaining intimate
relationships, and raising children are difficult to
balance.

Changes in women's roles have had an immense impact on the
family. A generation of Australian children are now being
raised by working mothers, who leave them in some form of
day care from an early age.

There are many consequences as a result of the choices
people make - and as I stated in my earlier post -
in today's society both men and women explore a wide
variety of possible roles - and all possible options
seem to be open and equally acceptable for both sexes.

Lexi:"all possible options
seem to be open and equally acceptable for both sexes."

Acceptable to whom? What options?

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/16012/

"Using critical discourse analysis, drawing on the work of Fairclough, I analyse the discourses about masculinity informing two recent policy documents: Gender Equity: A Framework for Australian Schools and Education Queensland's Boys Education Strategy. The study found that the Gender Equity Framework was primarily informed by (pro)feminist discourses, although advocates for boys discourses informed the Framework in significant ways as well. The Boys Education Strategy, while primarily framed by advocates for boys' discourses, was largely informed by (pro)feminist discourses at the micro level. "

Antiseptic,

Much as I appreciate your link dealing
with one particular aspect, my point of
reference was broader - more
to do with gender roles in general today and how
they have helped reshape the workplace, family,
and the relationship of the sexes.

That's why I stated that society today is
individualistic, and highly open to change and
experimentation, and that men and women may
explore a wide variety of possible roles.

True liberation from the restrictions of gneder
would mean that all possible options would be
open and equally acceptable for both sexes.
And as I stated earlier, than a person's
individual human qualities, rather than his or her
biological sex, would be the primary measure of that
person's worth and achievement.

I trust this clarifies things for you.
See you on another thread.