Relationships and Gender

Gender roles in relationships are extremely interesting. When I look at it in a wide sense, I see many of the stereotypes being true, even in my own life. I have had many friendships with other men where I’ll never really talk to them, just do things with them, and friendships with women where I talk a lot with them, and don’t do as many activities. However it is something that I feel can also be bent, and the stereotype doesn’t always hold true. I have some male friends where our relationship revolves around talking, or following a stereotypically feminine friendship pattern. I feel that some people are more comfortable with relationships that might be the opposite of their gendered norm.

            Gender roles become more complicated when a romantic relationship comes into play. The chapter talks about how men and women typically express intimacy and affection. Again, while I often see the stereotypical roles being the most played out, I also see many people bending those roles and doing whatever they feel most comfortable and happy doing. In some of my past relationships, I have taken a very feminine approach to communicating affection and intimacy, and I don’t believe there is anything wrong with that. If it’s how a person feels they should act, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with bending gender roles.