originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:53 PM

Definitely professions, but one that I would really like to disappear is street harassment. Not sure how to word that one. 😕

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:58 PM

Great job everyone, time for the summary!

• First of all we asked you guys what gender means to you. Some of you had trouble coming up with an exactly definition (it is pretty complicated!) but some things you mentioned were the influence of society on gender, what pronouns you use, gender stereotypes and self expression.
• Next we talked about pressure to conform to typical gender roles and where we felt that pressure came from. Some of us felt it more than others and some of the sources of it were parents, peers, school and extended family.
• After that we got on to the topic of how women get treated differently in comparison to men. You guys talked about how women get treated in the workplace by not getting to be considered as skilled as men, how female siblings get treated compared to male siblings, while driving (!), the wage gap (!!!!), how public figures are treated, women getting victim blamed and women being held up to higher standards of beauty to name just a few.
• On the flipside, we then got to the topic of how gender roles can be harmful for men. Some of the points made were about how man are told to not express emotion with ridiculous phrases like “boys don’t cry”, the idea that men have to be the providers of the household, the violence and aggression associate with typical masculinity, being restricted from having any “feminine” traits or interests and being expected to pay for everything.
• Then we talked about how differently toys are marketed to boys and girls. While many of us didn’t notice it as kids and even played with toys that weren’t “typical” of our gender, but a lot of us don’t feel too good about how toys are marketed now. We all seemed to agree that kids should be able to play with whatever kind of toys they want, even if it doesn’t follow traditional gender roles.
• We also talked about where we think ideas about gender roles come from. Some things people mentioned were the influence of societal ideas and how the people closest to us teach us ideas about gender.
• Then we tackled the task of how we can move away from relying on old-fashioned gender roles. The solutions you all came up with included being true to yourself, calling people out when they express crappy ideas about gender, educating people (especially when they’re young), using social media as a platform for change and telling people it’s okay if they don’t conform to typical standards of “normal”.
• Finally, if you guys were given magical anti-gender role powers for a day, you would get rid of gendered toys, destroy the idea that women can only do certain professions, let men feel free to express themselves, take away the stereotype that only women can be nurturing and end street harassment.
  
  That's it guys, the end of tonight session! Thank's so much to everyone who contributed tonight, I really feel like I learned a lot 🙂 
  
  Have a great night all, hope to see you at next week's GR sesh or around the forums! 

originally posted on 09-03-2015 10:01 PM

Thanks for the summary @Chessca_H it is awesome 🙂 Thank you all for coming tonight and it was such a quality conversation and really made me reflect. I appreciate you all 🙂

Goodnight and have a great week

originally posted on 09-03-2015 10:00 PM

Have a wonderful week everyone!

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:55 PM

I agree @stonepixie street harassment definitely and just out in general and going to clubs or pubs and people think its okay to grab your ass...

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:47 PM

Finally, if you could wave a magic wand and change one dumb expectation of your gender instantly which one would it be and why?


That men can't talk about their emotions or cry or show any weakness at all 😛

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:49 PM

That women need to cook, clean, be perfect parents, and dedicate their lives to their family. Men can be nurturers too.

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:45 PM

Finally, if you could wave a magic wand and change one dumb expectation of your gender instantly which one would it be and why?

 

I would change the expectation that women can't be good in typically "male" professions like science or politics. Women can do whatever they want!

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:26 PM

OMG exposed text messages, who doesnt love that @stonepixie

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:30 PM

Time for the next question!

 

Now that we’ve established that expecting people to behave traditionally “like a girl” or “like a boy” all the time is kind of ridiculous, what do you think we can do to combat it?

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:32 PM

Now that we’ve established that expecting people to behave traditionally “like a girl” or “like a boy” all the time is kind of ridiculous, what do you think we can do to combat it?

 

Start young, we need to educate young people, I mean children that it is okay to cry, it is okay to work in whatever job you want, it is okay to cook and clean, it is okay to play with whatever you want to play with. Parents should also be educated in what the implications are of trying to pressure their children into this boxes they dont want to fit into. 

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:37 PM

Now that we’ve established that expecting people to behave traditionally “like a girl” or “like a boy” all the time is kind of ridiculous, what do you think we can do to combat it?

I think social media campaigns like the youtube video I mentioned before are a really good way to introduce a shift in perception 🙂

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:41 PM

@FItzChivalry Yes, social media is such a good tool! Damned be the people who call social media activism "slackivism" 😛

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:44 PM

They aren't really owning it @Chessca_H

Anyone can be a keyboard warrior. But not everyone can walk the walk, so to speak.

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:36 PM

@ruenhonx totally agree, education (especially for young people) is vital!

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:32 PM

Just be who we are and call out gender stereotypes whenever we see them.

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:37 PM

@stonepixie Calling people out is a definite must. I don't always have the courage to speak up about it and can just sort of silently stew about it, but I'm trying to get better at it 🙂

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:40 PM

I think it is just easier for me because of my activism background. 🙂 And what better way to combat your social anxiety 😛

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:37 PM

@stonepixie yep I agree calling it out as it is. I think many of us including me just dont because I dont want to argue or fight with anyone but we really should not be bystanders and let people walk around unchallenged.

originally posted on 09-03-2015 9:26 PM

Please do @j95 Oh My Gosh! Hahahah.