As everyone would be well aware, I've been interested in the issues surrounding the vast social change that has occurred over the past couple of generations for quite a while, especially the way the relationship between the sexes has become so devalued and what has driven women to want to reject stable relationships based on a mutuality of interest and respect in favour of an abstract concept of independence, when it was clear that this was not a better way to live life and required great investment from the state to support it. The justifications didn't gel with my own knowledge of human behaviours and the denigration of men completely unnecessary. This wasn't personal, it was a wholesale rejection of men in every aspect of life. I've written a lot about it, trying to understand how and why this has been driven and I've come up with a lot of ideas, but no real understanding.

I know that it was driven deliberately as a means of increasing consumerism, but I have no idea why it was successful or why men have been so passive in accepting the abuse and the loss of opportunity and social approval.

So I've enrolled to do a Bachelor of Psychology, hoping to learn more about the social psychology that has driven the individual responses in both men and women, among other things.

I start next month. Wish me luck!

How sad.

Why would anyone seek “answers” from an institution such as Universities who don’t even understand the “questions?

Why don’t you just read Max Weber and save yourself heaps of money and liberate some personal time for rehab.

Good luck, you will have to be very strong to avoid becoming contaminated.

Do remember, if you want to avoid spending the entire tine is a "sent to Coventry" silence, do avoid asking questions based on common sense. That is one thing that is most definitely not permitted in any humanities subject.

Excellent, Anti - that you are doing something to further your understanding of subjects that interest you.

Mature-age students take something extra to higher learning, and are not usually led by the nose as are the younger generation.

Regarding spindoc's friendly directive....that's the sort of advice one would expect from those who believe that posting and gleaning opinions from opinion sites is the apex of information dissemination and deeper understanding in (our) culture.

I'm one who thinks the modern Western paradigm is finite regarding gender roles. The thing is that we're not androgynous, even as we pretend we are for the benefit of consumer society.

I'm expecting a few years down the track, someone like you could illuminate our follies and maybe shine an additional light on ways to go forward.

As far as rehab goes: you're already doing it by taking control of your future.

Good luck!

I prefer to draw my own conclusions, spindoc.

At 50, I'm only just learning that there are no bad questions, only bad attitudes. Every question answered adds to understanding in some way.

Of course, if you are of the view that knowledge of the ways people interact stopped advancing in 1920, then you won't agree.

On the subject of Weber, I am not a fan. My background is in science and engineering and I am firmly of the view that empiricism and logical rationality are essential to understanding. The solipsistic interpretive approach that Weber promulgated is what has caused the problem I'm trying to understand.

get far more truth and benefit from reading the bible Antiseptic. Psychology in most universities teaches that man is inherently good and only does bad things because of environment and many other excuses. Whole premise is a lie. They also assume we came from apes (another unscientific lie). Bible tells how we got our corrupt natures, how God has dealt with it and explains heaven and hell. Psychology is really part of the problem not the answer because it is essentially dishonest.