2012

[DaisyNonna]

Women have the vote. They are capable of taking care of contraception. They can earn money, live alone, be in charge of men in the workplace. They can drive, fly planes, make decisions, be part of the government. They can have children without sex with a man, have a relationship with another woman. Education is available to them.
Why are so many of them incapable of functioning without the approbation of a man?

[craft1948]

No idea Daisy, I would hate to think I relied on a man for anything................

[gness]

God knows Daisy. Much as I love men I`d hate to think I couldn`t function without one. And.... when a friend needs to ask permission for a night out or to buy something it makes me seethe.

[ummmm]

I can function perfectly well without him, and him without me.

[FredPuli43]

That begs the question. It takes as fact that 'so many are incapable'. Is that premiss a sound one? It depends, anyway, by what is meant by 'so many'. I've not known any.

[Mosaic]

Brilliant point Daisynonna. If you scan the media society is bombarded with, you'll constantly see attractive women depicted as those who are ultimately deferential to a man. Women (and men) want to be attractive. So the notion of women relying on men to judge them fit, capable, attractive, womanly, intelligent, desirable etc is perpetuated. And sadly many intelligent women who become 'successful' (however that is measured) collude with this process, with the result that women who do not want to conform to this type are further isolated. Humans are predisposed to avoid isolation at all costs.
'The needle returns to the start of the song and we all carry on as before...'

[jno]

we are hard-wired to seek out members of the opposite sex in order to transmit our genes. This is our genes' idea rather than ours, and in fact more and more people are ignoring them and having no children/copping off with members of the same sex/becoming popes. But seekignnthe approbation of the opposite sex is still the default option, and not just for women.

[snags]

''They can drive''

Ahem...........

[rowanwitch]

Redman and I can manage ok on our own we are just so much better together its not about approbation it is very much a mutual thing its friendship, and sharing stuff...

[mccfluff]

i hate it when i see people (men and women) jump from relationship to relationship as they can't be on their own

[sunny-dave]

Quite so fluff - the worrying thing is that it is a pattern of behviour that did seem to be in retreat rather (at least in my generation) but is now becoming the norm again.

The need for the 'validation' of being part of a couple is depressing to see - especially amongst 20somethings who should at least see an independent life as a viable option rather than a failure.

[Sqad]

//They are capable of taking care of contraception.///

No they can't.............educated ones maybe.

\\\They can earn money\\

Indeed, but the same job as the man, they will get paid less.

\\ fly planes, make decisions, be part of the government.\\\

Women are in the minority in the above situations.We saw some years ago "Blair's Babes".....but must of them have disappeared.

\\\They can have children without sex with a man,\\

Sex is used for other things than procreation.......fun for instance.....but yes Lesbianism is the "in thing."

The majority of women are happy to function with the approbation of a male.....in fact they prefer it.

[Mosaic]

Sqad - to quote Mandy Rice Davies who sought the approvsl of men in return for cash payments:
'He would say that, wouldn't he?'

[puddle-duck]

I have never understood it either. Don't know if it has anything to do with how they think society views them without a man on their arm.

My mother was very much like this, she couldn't cope on her own & latched on to any man who showed a bit of interest. Sometimes it was a case of anything is better that nothing.

[joko]

some girls are brought up in houses with very set rules on boys and girls stuff - they are encouraged to be girly and delicate and steer clear of anything 'boyish' and many are happy to just continue it

there are still even now all those 'boys jobs' that men appear stunned if you can do it - change a plug, etc

i think parents do their kids a great disservice by doing this because the girl grows up weak and feeling incapable and the boy confused by all these other girls who dont follow the 'rules' he believes are set in stone.

sadly my sister is a bit like this .. there are things she would be pefectly capable of doing if she tried but she has a default setting of 'thats a boys job' ...