Traditional Gender Roles Shouldn’t Be Imposed on Relationships
Men should be the provider, while women should stay at home, taking care of the kids.
Men should make the decisions in the relationship, while women can either follow or defer their judgment.
Men should be dominant in sexual situations, while women should be submissive and passive.
These are some of the traditional gender roles that society imposes on men and women.
These roles go way back in history, and whether we admit it or not, they sparked chaos among us.
But in this day and age, different people’s movements have risen to defy these norms. They argue that these norms only contribute to gender inequality and limit the opportunities available to both sexes.
For instance, men are expected to be strong and dominant, so they can’t be open and vulnerable.
While a lot of people reject these expectations, there are still those who think that they must be upheld at all costs, especially in romantic relationships.
And this is one of the reasons why relationships fail.
Imposing your beliefs and values only causes conflict.
I know couples who maintain traditional gender roles while still coexisting peacefully.
But I have also noticed other relationships where the couple share the same values but they’re frequently in conflict.
And do you know why? It’s because the partners impose their ideas, values, and beliefs on each other.
Lei, for instance, is a submissive and passive woman. She wanted a partner who would take the lead in the relationship. However, she ended up with someone like her — a submissive man.
She wanted her partner to be assertive with his opinions and beliefs and make most of the decisions in the relationship, but he also wanted the same from her. In short, they both wanted dominant partners.
They’ve tried to work things out. Her partner tried to be the strong and dominant one. But in the end, he realized he just can’t be someone that he wasn’t. Eventually, he got tired of her and ended up breaking things off.
It’s a matter of preference.
As for me, a relationship that’s based on conventional gender roles isn’t a problem at all. It’s a matter of preference that everyone should respect.
If you both want this dynamic, good for you. If you hold different beliefs, it’s fine too.
But nobody should force anyone to adhere to these principles merely because they believe it should be the standard in all interpersonal interactions.
If you always impose your values on your partner, chances are you will jeopardize the relationship in the long run.
Relationships are all about compromise and setting boundaries. If you can’t live with a partner who holds a different viewpoint, you shouldn’t be in a relationship in the first place.
