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Unnecessarily Gendered

User Profile: BusyBird
BusyBird May 4th

Mini grievance. Anyone ever notice how often things are unnecessarily gendered?


I'm not meaning trivial things like childrens toys. I mean... well, anything. Anything and everything. For example, I have heard people unironically try to gender emotions. Yeah. I heard someone say men are the angry ones and women are the emotional ones, as if anger was not an emotion. And that confused me until they clarified that they believe anger is not a real emotion.


I've also been told that women are the ones that are weak to shame, and they framed it as a flaw. I just think that's so odd. Especially since shame can affect nearly anyone.


These people who have said these things also say them so readily, as if it's a basic fact of life.


These strange assumptions about gendered things, traits, qualities... they pop up all the time around me. Am I the only one who notices this?


I didn't know where else to bring this up. I just was thinking about it, and how much these assumptions shape everything for me and probably many others. I think it could be important to address, though. It seems really harmful much of the time, from what I can tell. People of all ages and backgrounds seem to come up with a lot of... interesting ideas along these lines. I'm willing to bet that even I have unknowingly said or thought of potentially harmful, inaccurate, and also unnecessarily gendered concepts.


Thoughts?

2

@BusyBird It's definitely not just you who has noticed this. I do too. I think the whole "women are emotional creatures" thing has just been around a long time and people just say it to say it. Maybe so women do wear their emotions on their sleeve, but it doesn't take away from me. Men feel too and even if they experience anger, that's an emotion. Please really just need to be people. Stop the men v women. Do away with "men don't cry." Do away with "women are weaker than men." Just do away with it and allow people to be themselves and express themselves. ✨️ ❤️

1 reply
User Profile: BusyBird
BusyBird OP May 17th

@YourCaringConfidant Sorry I took so long to reply. I was excessively busy for a while there.


I agree completely! These stereotypes harm everyone because it makes men think they shouldn't feel feelings, and it makes women feel unheard when they do feel things. I know I do!

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