The basic gender charactieristics expected of the
sexes are learned in the family environment very
early in life, and are then reinforced in the
schools, in peer groups, in the mass media, and in
many other specific agencies, ranging from sports
teams to workplaces.

From the time that children are born, their parents
treat them differently on the basis of their sex.
As a result of this training, children learn
their gender roles quickly and effectively.

Beyond the home and the school, social life is saturated
with messages about which sex is dominant and about how
men and women ought to behave. In particular, all forms
of the mass media, from television soap operas to the
lyrics of popular songs, tend to emphasize fairly
traditional gender stereotypes.

I've stated in the past that in order for
attitudes to change -
they needd to change in the home, in the school, in our
social life, in the workplace, and in the mass media,
if we want to change the final shape of our gender roles.
We can all work
towards creating an individualistic society, highly open
to change and experimentation, one in which men and women
will explore a wide variety of possible roles.

A society in which all possible options would be open and
equally acceptable for both sexes. Then 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.

"Yes, and what amazes me even more is all those anti-feminists actually allowing all these 'Marxist feminists' to control the world?"

Suzie thats because your core beliefs about men and the idea of male power are fundamentally wrong.

There is no wide spread bond where men support one another to maintain control. For the vast majority of men our choices and power are just as restricted as the choices available to the vast majority of women. At best some personal autonomy within a range of often tight constraints.

There is little preferential treatment by men for other men, in most cases if Suzie and I were separately in need of help from strangers my gut feel is because of the chivalry thing Suzie would be more likely to get that help than I would.

At most men may give preferential treatment to a mate or someone who's values they identify strongly with, I've never seen indication of any widespread preference for men to get better outcomes than women. I and I suspect the other usual suspects have no interest in men getting better outcomes than women in family law, rather equal treatment.

Jay whilst I've also noticed an obsession with power from the feminists I've dealt with and from most of those whose writings I've read I do get concerned about those sorts of generalisations. There are equality feminists, some referenced earlier in this thread. I suspect the equality feminists have a tough enough time as it is without adding to it. Kind of like being a liberal in todays Liberal Party or actually caring about workers in todays Labor party.

R0bert

Foxy, "The basic gender charactieristics expected of the sexes are learned...."

It is last century's feminism, from well back in that century to boot, that theorised that 'gender socialisation' is the sole reason why girls prefer dolls and boys their cars.

If you want to keep up with scientific research though, you may need to concede that biology, hormones and genes have some effect.

The knee-jerk reaction of feminists would be to rely on their own qualitative 'research', right?

Many prefer the discipline of psychologists and their peer reviews to feminists in gender studies departments.

RObert, I think you are short-changing most men...in Australian society at least.

I have no doubt that many men support each other in the best way they know how.
What about during the World Wars?

When push comes to shove, aren't men very closely tied to each other in 'mate ship' during testing times?

My husband has several close friends he sees every week at golf, and he tells them at least as many problems as he tells me!

You have been through a terrible ordeal with an abusive wife, and I have no doubt you may never get over that.
But please don't tar all of us with the same feathers RObert.

Dear Suse,

I agree with you. It is unfortunate that as I stated
earlier this issue has become highly politicised and
adversarial in which men and women's expressions of
violence are being placed in competition with each
other because in fact the development of effective
responses will be based on a better understanding of
the complexities of each form of victimisation.
Tarring everyone with the same brush will only achieve
negative results. I too feel sorry for RObert's personal
experience - and wish him well in the future.

Dear RObert,

The following link may be of interest:

http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=6008