Considering ... Gender significance, Mon/Tue 9/26-27/2016

This thread was inspired by my assignment the last couple days to work in women's accessories (bras, panties, socks, purses, girdles, slips, etc.). To me, all of that stuff looks alike - not at all like the men's clothing which I know pretty good now. I guess I really don't understand the need for all the straps, snaps, fancy buttons, and frilly lace - and yet a lot of it is remarkably similar to men's clothing - in fact when I am sorting out returns I often have to ask if a certain garment is men's or women's. Anyway, it got me to thinking about why God created men and women and assigned them specific roles in the Garden of Eden. Today, the original roles and identity of men and women has become somewhat blurred. Men and women are very much equal in the workplace, at least in theory. Yes, there is still a gender gap in some areas.

Here is a quote from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" from the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles issued in September, 1995:

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

Today's q/q: How do you view the roles of men and women in today's world? What has changed since God put the first man and woman upon the earth?

Judaism also teaches that all human beings — male and female — are created in the image of God. As a matter of fact, one of the morning blessings thanks God for "making me in [Your] image."

In the United States, there are laws that prohibit treating men and women differently in the workplace. As a woman, I can and should be paid the same wages as a man doing the same job (assuming that we are equally qualified and can produce equally in our respective tasks, of course). For many years, women earned $.50 an hour for every $1.00 an hour a man earned doing the same work. (How can that be considered fair in a democracy?)

Outside of the kinds of work covered by such laws, I believe the same principles apply. When I walk into a store to purchase something, I expect to be treated with the same respect that would be shown to a man. Once, in a hardware store, I walked to the front counter where there were two clerks behind the counter, each helping one customer. I was clearly the next customer waiting for help. A few minutes later, another customer came in and waited next to me. When one of the customers being helped was finished and turned to leave, the clerk turned to the man who entered AFTER ME to ask if he could help him, AND the man approached the counter. I spoke up (well, you know me by now, right?) and said I was waiting before "this man" arrived. The clerk was flustered for a moment, but got over it very quickly, apologized, and asked how he could help me. (Yes, the man who came in after me stood aside too.) It was the clearest instance of discrimination based on sex I've ever personally experienced.

I see nothing unusual when either spouse stays home to take care of the house and/or kids while the other spouse pursues her/his career, earns a living, to support the family financially. I see nothing unusual with both spouses working for a living and splitting the household chores including child-rearing. I see nothing unusual for two adults who love each other want to marry each other, assuming neither is already legally married to someone else. And yes, Gary, you didn't specify, but it does fall into today's q/q, it absolutely positively does NOT matter to me whether the two people who love each other and marry each other are of one gender or two genders. So it won't surprise you to learn I see no issue with either spouse being the "helpmate" of the other.

Many things have changed since humanity began. But instead of starting with original humans, let's start with more recent history.

In western civilization, men dominated women, beginning at least as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans. It may be true that in Sparta, women had rights whereas women in Athens may not have, but overall, the first sentence in this paragraph is generally correct. In the United States (which, may I remind you, has been around only two and almost a half centuries) women were "granted" (!!!!!) the vote less than 100 years ago. That's during my parents' lifetime. I find that ridiculous. Even more ridiculous, there are countries around the world with relatively democratic governments where women DO NOT yet have the right to vote. And there are many countries in the world in 2016 where women have either no rights at all, or at least way fewer rights than men. I DO have major problems with these instances.