Hacker News Reader

Comment by NotMyMorals | Hacker News Reader

>Gender roles are a problem because they mean that anyone who doesn't fit into them nicely gets screwed over. This affects, oooh, probably pretty much everyone because the odds of someone matching up with them exactly in every possible regard are pretty damn low.

Do you have any evidence of gender roles so specific and enforced so strictly that "pretty much everyone" gets "screwed over" for not matching up with them exactly in "every possible regard?"

How do you account for all the people, perhaps a majority, who don't seem to have any problem with traditional gender roles, but in fact, embrace them? They don't seem to feel they are being "screwed over."

View on HN

You ever worn a skirt? They are freaking comfortable. Especially if you're just sitting at a desk all day. Lightweight, breezy, totally stylish.

I don't expect you to agree with me, of course, but just try one on for work one day. You'll be amazed.

Even if you are wearing a Kilt, which is a pretty manly version of a skirt, you'll be hearing remarks for a couple of weeks.

But to be honest, I feel a little silly making a big deal about the ability to wear a skirt or have a purse for instance.

Sure, and that's the point-- you can't even do something as unimportant as wear a particular kind of clothing without subjecting yourself to serious social pressure, but we're being asked to believe that gender roles don't really affect people's choices.

> or have a purse for instance

It's called a messenger bag. Usually cheaper, more versatile, and a leather one can last you a lifetime.

And yet you still get the random comment about wearing a purse...

Well, of course a majority of people seem to embrace traditional gender roles - that's what our society rewards people for! We look up to women who drop out of work to raise kids and look down on men who do the same as unmanly, tut-tut about how women who don't have kids will regret it later once their feminine instincts kick in, beat up people who wear the wrong kind of clothing for their gender (clothing, for fuck's sake!), ...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com