Sigh!

While insults that have feminity in mind to insult boys and cower them into conformity may be an artefact of the past misogyny (and the few really stupid elements that remain today), I think it has a lot to do with just “stepping outside their role”.

Their role is just a lot more narrower because most people (including most feminists) don’t think it’s worthwhile to help men get into traditional feminine pursuits or doing traditional feminine activities, or wearing skirts, make-up etc.

If people would be interested more (that includes women), there would be a movement just as strong as feminism to counter those stereotypes.

Consider that while men weren’t in the more hardcore feminist movements (like 2nd wave separatism – they couldn’t even become members, and those few sections rejected all things male), many supported women’s liberation, right to vote, right to work the same jobs etc.

Now how many feminist groups or organizations (not blogs, too small to have political influence) do you know that do more than just discuss gender roles for men? That actually have programs/concrete things and more than an abstract “when the patriarchy is dead” goal to help men and boys?

As for the inferiority thing, I’d have to agree and have for a long time. Whatever is associated with girls/women still, even now, has an underlying feeling of it being inferior and not good enough for boys/men. I think the fact that men in this day and age still use womankind, and related, as insults for each other helps prove it. You wouldn’t use us to offend each other if we weren’t considered inferior…

It’s restrictive of boys/men, not being able to branch out the way women have been able to, and insulting to girls/women that whatever is stereotypically related to us is not good enough for them.

http://www.toystogrowon.com/sku851

What´s repressing is the gender stereotyping it´s self. Teaching boys that it´s normal for boys have to be violent and aggressive from a young age with toys is just as damaging as teaching girls to be passive and submissive, but it gets ignored.

The focus for equality issues is on girls and women, but we need to include boys and men too to truly make headway in hour our society perceives gender roles.