Because there are just too many gosh darned good blogs out there to read!!!
Screw housework.
Adam is in pre school, crunchy husband is working in his office (allegedly) and Caity is playing with her little people at my feet. Oh and Callie is destroying another basketball outside.
So I am doing a bit of surfing before I get on with the day.
Read Plan Jane Mom… she rules by the way…go read. But through her, I stumbled upon THIS blog and that also rules and the review totally set me off.
I realize the media is NOT the best way to get an idea of marriages and REAL people, but you have to wonder.
All these reality help shows out there…..they seem to show ‘families’ living lives completely at odds with mine. People living in McMansions, generic decor, and marriages more focused on ‘playing the role’ than a deep connection between two people.
The couples seem to live separate lives…..and smacks of Ozzie and Harriet. There always seems to be a struggle about everyone ‘doing their job’…rarely do I get a sense of a loving and cohesive family.
And don’t get me wrong…I understand that some people feel very strongly about ‘traditional’ roles and ‘family values’ and all that…and fine, whatever floats your boat……but I often wonder how these people got married in the first place when they seem to have so little in common.
This always boggles me when we are so deep into a ‘marry for love’ society….what is the love based on?
And then you have books like the one reviewed by Leery Polyp and I REALLY begin to wonder what is going on.
I have such a distaste for books and shows that play on negative stereotypes of the genders as humour and that ‘oh what can you do’ mentality.
I had hoped that we were beyond that in the 21st Century. It saddens me to see eye rolling, shoulder shrugging, and here is some cute tricks to fool them ‘help’ splashed around.
It does nothing to help. And even when meant in humour…I think the humour has a negative impact on how we view ourselves, our partners and the opposite sex in general.
I think that is why I was never into ‘Bridget Jones’ or most so-called chic lit either. You would have a giggle while reading this stuff, but I was always felt a bit uneasy and sad after. I felt it was all playing too much into catty stereotypes and also sending the message that it is ok to play games, manipulate and ‘fool’ people as well as just put up with poor behavior.
I think it is nasty. I think it is damaging to people. Especially to people who are NOT clear on their role in life….or the importance of their TRUE feelings vs what they think they are supposed to feel and so on. Make sense?
I worry about the sort of messages these images send out…and especially to the younger generations.
I don’t want my son and daughter playing games, worrying about how they are supposed to act vs how they truly are and so on. I want them to be themselves and to respect themselves AND persons of the opposite sex that they will meet along the way.
No matter what team you are playing for…..we all need to get beyond the stereotypes and he vs. she and the whole ‘we just don’t understand them’ bull twaddle.
We need books about being a real couples. About people who are together because they LIKE one another. Because they have the same goals and ideals….not because they want to play at house.
Please….no more Ozzie and Harriet and no more 5 minute blow job cure all’s either, though my husband may beg to differ!!!
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Whim says
Excellent post Crunchy!