Nice digs. I enjoy myself some discussion of gender and ethnicity although intelligent discussion is short supply.

I think there is subtle difference you are missing. There is a difference between our external representations and internal definitions. You are correct we just can’t say to the world that gender doesn’t matter since males have significant advantages just for being men. In the external world gender matters and has effects.

But in our internal definitions we have more flexibility and often a vastly different view of ourselves then our external representations. I think the impetus away from gender stereotypes is healthy for us as we understand ourselves. It is not healthy to define ourselves by a singular, rigidly defined characteristic like being a Man. With the loosening of stereotypes we can define ourselves in many ways and with less outside pressure to live up to outside pressures. We can be who we want to be and based on our talents and drives not just what a Man is supposed to be. Especially since what has become to be considered the “traditional” view of Manhood is restrictive and not related to who many man are or have been.

I think this is similar to how people define race/ethnicity. While my whiteness is an obvious advantage to me, it is not particularly how i define my own ethnicity. White just doesn’t, at least internally, tell me personally about the history of my family. My own definition of ethnicity includes being the grandson of Polish/Yiddish and Greek immigrants during the great European migrations to America between the Wars.

anywho, i look forward to reading more about this. I’m sure you’ll have more interesting stuff, because if you don’t we’ll beat you up at gym class.