Would a society that didn't have STRICT gender roles be all that bad?

A society without gender roles puts across the idea that there are no differences between men and women. I think society works best when men and women complement each other -- we were made to have skills in different areas so that we can support each other and raise children successfully. I think we should accept that men and women are different, and whilst we should all have equal opportunity in some areas, like the right to have an education, there are other areas in which it doesn't make sense. We have freedom of choice already in society, but I wouldn't want to see gender neutrality go any further. To me, equality isn't about making everyone the same, it's about giving equal value to men's traits and women's traits -- at the moment, femininity is seen as inferior to masculinity, and that's what needs to be changed. I believe gender roles are biological so I don't think they'll ever change -- the majority of women will always choose to have children and stay at home, and the majority of men will choose dangerous or high status careers. I've never been pressured into a gender role, I'm feminine by nature. The only people who would benefit are the few exceptions who don't fit gender roles... I think that's essentially what modern feminism is; not a movement for women, but a movement for people with non-traditional gender identities. Most people have no problem with their role. Rio: The majority of women work because the economy forces them to. "...and the majority of women who stay home say they would rather work." Source, please? If that was the case, why aren't they working? No one's stopping them. It isn't really a gender issue -- I think the majority of PEOPLE would choose not to work if they didn't have to, especially if they have children to spend time with.

This sounds like an excellent model for a society that does not place emphasis on gender. I believe that Scandinavian countries practise this type of genderless role. They are more modern-thinking and not traditionalist about gender and I would consider them all to have the choice to be whatever they choose. As you say, it has to be a choice for women to take on the role they view as being true to themselves. I do hope other western countries use Scandinavia or at least try to move into a genderless type situations.

I like this idea. Choice. Freedom to choose without risking harassment or judgment. Sounds like a wonderful society.

Our society is already like that. Men and women can choose to work or not work. The only difference is - is that when a woman chooses to not work people say it's her choice - yet, when a man chooses to not work people say he's a lazy deadbeat. Also, more welfare and protections are there for women who choose to not work. There's nothing of the sort for men who choose to not work. If a man gets into the welfare line a security officer will grab him by the arm and escort him out of the building. Men don't get handouts. They get shown the way out!

A gender-neutral society has been a nightmare for boys We're cutting physical education programs and instead, medicating the boyness out of our boys. Boys are 7 times more likely to be drugged for behavioral problems instead of recognizing that boys just think differently. Gender-neutrality, in my opinion, is the feminists way of demeaning the roles and achievements of men. It also diminishes the important role of father. Masculinity is a good thing. Men don't suffer when they feel masculine, they suffer when they don't.

The only real downside would be the chance that some people might end up regretting their choices. But that's not a good enough reason not to try it. "the majority of women will always choose to have children and stay at home" Actually, the majority of women work, and the majority of women who stay home say they would rather work.

I would like to see this happen in the fashion industry. I like to wear some women's hairstyles. But, because of society dictates, I get criticized for wear a long bob (chin length) just because it is considered a woman's hairstyle. Men had this style before women had it. This is one area where society needs to lighten up and leave people alone.

Actually, the societies with the strict gender roles are the ones on the wrong paths. Don't get me wrong; they may have other wonderful qualities but gender roles are a very twisted way to think, to be blunt. Gender roles, as conceived by most societies, are ARTIFICIAL constructs. Some people like to pretend that such artificial concepts of gender are the "natural" order of things... but they are not. Also, the USA isn't nearly as free of these artificial, outmoded gender roles as many people would like to think.

In response to another post, Scandinaviam countries may have high suicide rates but that is attributed the long winter nights that occur in those countries, not from how men and women behave. For many people, it's depressing when they have to live through months of virtually no sunlight.