Conversation

Why does the male gender role have generally less flexibility? Feminine men seem more mocked than masculine women, you can name a baby girl 'Max' but it's weird for a baby boy to be "Sarah", women being bi is basically a fun norm while 'bi guys' are stereotyped as gay. Why?

134

Aella

@Aella_Girl

Oct 30, 2019

This is a thing where I feel like there's got to be a great evolutionary theory for this but I don't know what it is. Is it male value is more centered around strength behaviors, while women value is more centered around reproduction (which is much more stable)?

Tailcalled (tailcalled@schelling.pt)

@tailcalled

Oct 30, 2019

Replying to

@Aella_Girl

I don't think it has less flexibility along all dimensions. It's pretty acceptable for men to be compassionate, and at least in my surveys, masculine interests in women correlate more with gender role dissatisfaction than feminine interests in men do.

Aella

@Aella_Girl

Replying to

@tailcalled

What do you mean correlate more with gender role dissatisfaction?

6:38 PM · Oct 30, 2019

Tailcalled (tailcalled@schelling.pt)

@tailcalled

Oct 30, 2019

Replying to

@Aella_Girl

GNC people are less happy about their sex, presumably because of gender norms. This effect is stronger for women than for men, at least in my experience when studying it.