Honestly? I think it'd be easier to be a guy. At least your "expectations" are clearly outlined. A girl has to be much more creative in ways to show her appreciation and respect. It's like buying gifts. Girls (in general) are easy to buy for. You can always default to flowers, chocolates, stuffed animals, lotions, candles, etc. Guys, however, are much harder to buy for. What am I supposed to get him? A hammer? What is a stereotypical guy gift? Oh, a tie.
Yes, I will preach absolute equality in every facet of life. Including relationships. But I do not believe that equality means that we do the exact same things. The Proclamation to the Family states, "In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners." Hear that? Equal partners. The husband and the wife are equal. But that doesn't mean they are exactly the same. Just the line before outlines some of the differences. 100 pounds of feathers and 100 pounds of lead are equal in weight, but very different in make up. Relationships are not a tradeoff, "I'll open your door if you pay the check." If you get into that game, your marriage is gonna be tough indeed. In a healthy marriage there are no points to tally to measure up to see who is doing more in the relationship. Rather you each do your best to fulfill the needs and wants of the other person. Period. And if you both do it with the right intent, you're not going to care if the other person has been doing the exact same amount in return for you.
So wait, you're saying that now women are heard, but not respected? Is that our choice? We can only have one or the other? How come men get to be respected and heard all the time? Why do women have to choose when men don't?FauxRaiden wrote:That was also a time when women didn't have the right to vote or have a voice in the world. Back then women were respected, but not heard.
Was that the political discussion? "Ok, ok girls, we'll give you the right to vote. But in exchange, we're going to stop opening your doors for you. You've just lost our respect because you want to care about our country, too."
I'm not saying that some feminists don't take it too far. They want everything and aren't willing to give anything back. They want everything a man gets AND everything entitled to just women as well. I disagree with this. I think it's foolish that some extremist feminists basically want to become men with the benefits of being women as well. But guess what? Not all women are like that. In fact, I'd wager that most aren't. Yes, I'm grateful I get to wear jeans and also have maternity leave from work and have a guy open my door at times, but I'm also willing to make dinner every night and nurture my children and do the laundry. Most women still want to be women. Maybe not the stereotypically in every way, but I think most women are willing to give and take some. Give them some rights and freedoms that have been denied them for centuries (but not forever) and still treat them as ladies and perhaps you'll unleash the respect and devotion that women used to give men.
*I'm not saying a girl should never pay for a date. If a girl asks the guy out, she'd better be planning on paying for it. Whoever plans the date should pay for it.