Hello everyone! How are we doing? I have to say this week's topic is one that has been very hard for me. I have struggled with gender roles and why some people just don't seem to fit. I think that something’s are natural or biological. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it says, “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” Wow, I totally agree.
However, I also think that something’s are learned by social interaction. For example, I grew up with 4 brothers and have developed some masculine traits. My natural reactions are sometime very masculine like when people annoy me my natural reaction is aggression. I also learned very early if I communicated the same way I did with girl friend at school with my brother they would not understand me. I think that gender differences are essential to eternal families and God's plan. I feel that while we need to affirm traditional gender roles we also need to be sensitive to those that do not fit that role perfectly. I think that as a society we need to make more room for the individual personalities to be accepted and maybe even encouraged. While yes, men should be the provider and protector but is it a bad thing if he can also be sensitive to the emotional needs of himself and other? Women should be the nurturers but is it a bad thing if she is also strong and independent as well? Do all men have to act exactly the same to be considered MEN or can we have some variety and personality. Do all women have to be happy homemakers or can some be career minded? We need to start looking at the person first and gender last. I think we need more compassion and less judgment. We need to start working together as a team; men and women not men verses women.
I read an article called Garden, Gender, and God by James T. Summerhays and Mary Fielding Summerhays that I really liked. I think that they describe it best. The article talked about the difference between the Godhead and Godhood. They state that the Godhead is made up of 3 men. Here is a startling principle to ponder: while three males preside over the governing Godhead, an exalted husband and wife who have posterity effectively comprise a fully creative and functional godhood. However, three males alone cannot carry out the full spectrum of creation. Three males alone constitute a priesthood function that must interact with other functions. When we unravel all the layers and get down to the most basic essence of godhood, we find another three—father, mother, and child. This shows that we need both genders to work together as a unit to fulfill God’s plan for us. We need individuals, men and women, to come together and create families. This is the purpose of life and this is what makes happiness possible.
https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation
http://ldsmag.com/1/12863/article/1/page-1
However, I also think that something’s are learned by social interaction. For example, I grew up with 4 brothers and have developed some masculine traits. My natural reactions are sometime very masculine like when people annoy me my natural reaction is aggression. I also learned very early if I communicated the same way I did with girl friend at school with my brother they would not understand me. I think that gender differences are essential to eternal families and God's plan. I feel that while we need to affirm traditional gender roles we also need to be sensitive to those that do not fit that role perfectly. I think that as a society we need to make more room for the individual personalities to be accepted and maybe even encouraged. While yes, men should be the provider and protector but is it a bad thing if he can also be sensitive to the emotional needs of himself and other? Women should be the nurturers but is it a bad thing if she is also strong and independent as well? Do all men have to act exactly the same to be considered MEN or can we have some variety and personality. Do all women have to be happy homemakers or can some be career minded? We need to start looking at the person first and gender last. I think we need more compassion and less judgment. We need to start working together as a team; men and women not men verses women.
I read an article called Garden, Gender, and God by James T. Summerhays and Mary Fielding Summerhays that I really liked. I think that they describe it best. The article talked about the difference between the Godhead and Godhood. They state that the Godhead is made up of 3 men. Here is a startling principle to ponder: while three males preside over the governing Godhead, an exalted husband and wife who have posterity effectively comprise a fully creative and functional godhood. However, three males alone cannot carry out the full spectrum of creation. Three males alone constitute a priesthood function that must interact with other functions. When we unravel all the layers and get down to the most basic essence of godhood, we find another three—father, mother, and child. This shows that we need both genders to work together as a unit to fulfill God’s plan for us. We need individuals, men and women, to come together and create families. This is the purpose of life and this is what makes happiness possible.
https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation
http://ldsmag.com/1/12863/article/1/page-1