Go Ask Jo: 9/29/2021

Dear Jo,

I’ve been thinking about gender roles. You know the spiel. Women belong in the kitchen. Women: stay home! Make and take care of those babies! Cooking and cleaning is women’s work. Blah blah blah.

Speaking as a man myself, I feel the very notion of gender roles is ridiculous and ignorant, to say the least! Here is my question for you. Why do you think most men accept this? In fact, it seems some get their rocks off, so to speak, by keeping not just “their woman” but ALL women, under their thumb? Okay, that probably qualifies as two separate questions. I hope you don’t mind.

Signed,

A Respectful Gentleman

Dear Respectful,

Wait! Are you telling me you don’t just drool at the thought of your “little woman” in her day-dress baking your favorite cookies while your sheets snap in the late summer breeze outside?! You would really rather have a partner who rushes out the door, phone cradled to her ear while she gives you a half hearted wave goodbye on her way to her career job?! I salute you! I mean it, to be able to want more for your partner when it means doing more, or doing things differently. The only person you can change is you, the rest of the Neanderthals will have to catch up eventually!

Signed, Jo