Yes, we are of equal value, but a true gentleman knows better.

Traditional gender roles are slowly undergoing change. This change is bringing about a vast number of positive outcomes for both genders including:

• freedom for both men and women to explore and develop new roles based on personal choices rather than gender stereotypes. For example, females can be independent, strong and successful; males can be nurturing, emotional and intuitive;

• equality of interaction between genders; and

• increased social, domestic and career opportunities.

It is not about win or lose, in fact with equality it is win/win for all.

Men do not comprise a uniform group, nor is it possible to speak of a single male role. Masculinity is not always equivalent to power. Men lead many different types of lives and have many different interests.
Social and health statistics show that life in Western society exacts a high price from men. Males are overrepresented among drug abusers and prison inmates.

The life expectancy of men is shorter compared to women. Boys exhibit more problematic behaviour patterns in school than girls, and constitute a larger proportion of the pupils requiring compensatory measures at the primary school level. The drop-out rate for boys is considerably higher than for girls.

The need for children need to associate with men as well as women in day-care institutions, schools and in family life has been well documented. There is general concern from a gender-equality perspective that day-care institutions and schools remain a female-dominated environment.

Just as women needed liberation from the narrow roles of mothers and nurturers, men also need freedom from the role of provider and protector – roles which are anachronistic today, where more women are becoming independent and able to look after themselves.

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It really is about choice for both sexes – if men want to work in nurturing careers such as nursing, social work or teaching, and we as a society would surely benefit from greater participation by men in non-traditional roles, then our view of these careers need to change. These professions are poorly paid compared to careers in stockbroking, investment for example – there is little incentive or respect for caring professions.

The changes in male gender roles not only involve men’s relationships with women, but also the manner in which they relate to other men, to new tasks and to important social institutions run by men.

Just as women have been denied rights which men have held in their traditional sphere of responsibility (protectors and providers), men have also been denied rights which women have held in their traditional sphere of responsibility (as nurturers and homemakers).

Just as women have had to shoulder the extra responsibilities of being society's carer’s, men have also had to shoulder the extra responsibilities of being society's protectors and providers. Both sexes have been denied rights and both sexes have been given unfair burdens of responsibility.

We can share our responsibilities without being straight-jacketed into roles that may not fit. Men can be carers and women providers, but we still have along way to go. There are plenty of women who see men as a meal ticket and, conversely, men who see women as objects to be kept and controlled.

It is all about balance and freedom of choice

Scout another great post. Thank you.

R0bert

Yes I agree. Another great post. We are all in agreement.
Just like being married isn't it?

Scout, you've got it wrong. When men give up being providers, they give up their other family commitments as well. They become demotivated. Statistically, the number of children they father drops dramatically, the hours of housework they contribute declines, the number of hours they spend with their children falls, and they lose their commitment to paid work (50% of men in female provider families are unemployed).

Why would women encourage a situation in which they are likely to end up doing everything, including the paid work, the child-care and the housework?

I'll post a link soon which will make it clear that a shift away from the traditional provider role is not liberating for men, and is the worst possible outcome for women.