Friday Five: Gender differences
Oct. 11th, 2019 08:35 amhttps://thefridayfive.dreamwidth.org/90602.html
1. Do you think you are treated differently because you are a man or woman?
Obviously lots. I think you know what I think, and the same for the next two questions.
I find it really strange imagining what woman-Jack might be like. I don't know how much that's my own conception of gender, and how much it's just that even if I'm the same, SO MUCH about how society treats you is different.
Although ironically, I think some of the things I have problems with, like being taken seriously, are things often made problems for women. Except people didn't just look at me and treat me like that, it's how I act, when many people have the same problem however they act.
4. Do you think women should take men's last names when they marry? Why or why not?
I think everyone should have the choice to do what they want with their name. I think trying to mandate anything doesn't help.
I think if you're going to have children, the real question is "what surname do the children have" because you have to choose a single name per child and double-barrelling only postpones the problem. And then one or both parents choose to change their name to match or not.
There's a benefit in everyone having one name, for simplicity, and showing a genuine commitment to the family as a long term thing. But since there's enough families that aren't "two opposite sex parents, and some children", I think society will just eventually have to get used to that not being the case, and then everyone can do what they like.
I think the only stable solution is something like, "every parents choose which surname they prefer". I think trying to stick to a system will just not work.
But in answer to the question, the old status quo of "the man doesn't change his surname, the woman does, and we've never heard of any other combination of genders" is -- obviously -- sexist, and damaging, even if it works out ok for many individual couples.
5. Do you think a woman will be President of the United States in the near future?
Under the circumstances I really freaking hope so! Anything other than Trump is needed so urgently :( But I don't know how likely it is. It feels like we have enough creditable non-male primary candidates that it will happen sooner or later. But I don't know if there's anyone who will get there this election or the one after. Warren is getting more popular, but I find it hard to believe anyone with detailed proposals and a commitment to changing worrying trends will actually get anywhere :(
1. Do you think you are treated differently because you are a man or woman?
Obviously lots. I think you know what I think, and the same for the next two questions.
I find it really strange imagining what woman-Jack might be like. I don't know how much that's my own conception of gender, and how much it's just that even if I'm the same, SO MUCH about how society treats you is different.
Although ironically, I think some of the things I have problems with, like being taken seriously, are things often made problems for women. Except people didn't just look at me and treat me like that, it's how I act, when many people have the same problem however they act.
4. Do you think women should take men's last names when they marry? Why or why not?
I think everyone should have the choice to do what they want with their name. I think trying to mandate anything doesn't help.
I think if you're going to have children, the real question is "what surname do the children have" because you have to choose a single name per child and double-barrelling only postpones the problem. And then one or both parents choose to change their name to match or not.
There's a benefit in everyone having one name, for simplicity, and showing a genuine commitment to the family as a long term thing. But since there's enough families that aren't "two opposite sex parents, and some children", I think society will just eventually have to get used to that not being the case, and then everyone can do what they like.
I think the only stable solution is something like, "every parents choose which surname they prefer". I think trying to stick to a system will just not work.
But in answer to the question, the old status quo of "the man doesn't change his surname, the woman does, and we've never heard of any other combination of genders" is -- obviously -- sexist, and damaging, even if it works out ok for many individual couples.
5. Do you think a woman will be President of the United States in the near future?
Under the circumstances I really freaking hope so! Anything other than Trump is needed so urgently :( But I don't know how likely it is. It feels like we have enough creditable non-male primary candidates that it will happen sooner or later. But I don't know if there's anyone who will get there this election or the one after. Warren is getting more popular, but I find it hard to believe anyone with detailed proposals and a commitment to changing worrying trends will actually get anywhere :(