We had quite a lesson this week about gender roles and the sensitive topic of gay/lesbian people. Since my post in our discussion board has a lot of feeling and is a bit personal, I decided to post that tonight, since it sums up my feelings pretty well. Enjoy!

 

 

 

"With the discussion of gender roles, it made me think of my family and how my parents have worked things out. My dad has always beem the working one. But after losing his job, and having tough times to follow within the next 2-3 years, my mom stepped up and went to work part time, then full time for a while when we were in financial trouble. After my dad was able to secure work, my mom continued to work, but only part time so that she could be home with us, and has been working ever since. My parents have been able to work together to support the family, and still make time for us kids.

I also have two older brothers and a younger sister, and I looked a lot up to my older brothers. I wanted to do things they were doing, and I did some of those things, but I still enjoyed the girl things. And when someone says that we should make boys more like girls and vice versa makes me thinks that they do not understand what they're saying. If kids are going to get into things that the opposite gender is into, is not because something is wrong with them. I think is comes down to personality, interests, and choice. And, we are the gender we are for a reason, and with that comes responsibilities that we were meant to have. It's okay for men to be softhearted and gentle without having to act feminine and gay, and women can be tough without having to come off as lesbian. We may be into different things for both genders, but that doesn't take away who we are naturally when it comes to supporting a family. Dad's can be playful and nuturing, as did my dad. He played a lot with me and my siblings growing up, and it meant a lot to all of us and is some of our fondest memories of him. Yet, he is strong and protective, naturally."