Role playing

GENDER ROLES can be a touchy topic. Are they culturally based? Is the assignment of tasks and values determined by social norms and traditions that differ from one culture to another? Or one couple to another, even in the same culture?

- By Tony Samson

Political correctness has brought risks to those proffering opinions about gender roles. Even partnerships are being redefined and no longer limited to the traditional roles of men and women. (Let’s stop there.)

A fight with women regarding male opinions, especially when perceived as chauvinistic rubbish, is impossible to win. In designating roles for women and men, we offer these personal observations. Note that this is an individual person’s view which may not be shared by others. (Let me concede here right away.)

Here are some observations of roles being assigned.

When waiting for a table in an extremely popular restaurant, it is the female who is expected to talk to the receptionist to check the assigned number in the waiting line. Her man goes over the menu and makes the selection, as now and then he nudges his female partner to check if the waiting line has moved.

This queueing assignment involves making sure that no other group jumps the line. (Hey, can you check if that party smirking and looking around furtively came ahead of us?) Are there separate queueing rules for seniors?