Visual separations between men and women

Kizzume

I've often wondered if we as a society have actually reversed the "natural" roles as far as who it is that visually tries to stimulate the other gender.

In nature, the males have more visual markings than the women. The same would be the case in humans if we didn't make men shave their faces and make women shave their legs and pits and wear makeup and fancy outfits. I've often wondered whether things would go more smoothly if we reversed the roles--women would be the ones choosing their mates instead of men typically being the ones to choose their mates--it would be more based on genes, who the women want to have as the father of their children.

Have you ever wondered about this?

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

Well honestly, at least in my experience as a heterosexual, women do choose their mates. To put it another way-- When a girl wants sex, she never has to look far to get it. There are guys-- some of my friends even-- who go very long times without sex even if they badly want it. Guys are competing for girls as is. It really isn't much different than nature, really. Sure, girls are more visually asthetic as humans than in the animal kingdom (in the bird kingdom, the males perform great feats and dances to attract their mate), but this isn't because they aren't the ones choosing. This is because they want to attract not just any male, but the best male.

In science, the male is the one who is always trying to spread his seed. Reproduction is his purpose. And the female is the one deciding between the group who would give the best seed, based on a variety of qualities. If she chooses a bad mate, her offspring won't be fit for survival. It is all about survival of the fittest.

Kizzume · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject:

Guys certainly DO compete for women, that's for sure. It's odd though that a lot of men refuse to look at it that way. There are so many guys who think that guys are the ones who make those distinctions---I'm wondering if part of this is what some of the feminist movement is actually about--to bring things like this out in the open more.... Hmm.....

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

Kizzume · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject:

Are there any books you would recommend on it? Maybe I could check it out at the library....

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

"Bananas, Beaches and Bases" gives a full background on Patriarchy, the sex trade, and globalization from a non-economic standpoint.

jq · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 1089

It should be worth noting that the two first things I mentioned are more like "case studies," that is, very specific materials which encompass feminism (but not ONLY feminism) whereas BBB is specific text on Feminism. However, all three materials I mentioned were written by well known and widely respected Feminists.

EDIT:

PERSEPOLIS by the way is not just highly educational because relating to feminism, but also because you find out all about Iran and its history at the same time.