gender advantages and disadvantages ( Archived) (11)

I Judaism it is a given that men and women are different, and each has different roles in life, specifically/generally, women bear children, men work to bring income to the household. Some go too far with the specifics, but I don't.

But, I do, very much, draw the distinction that men and women are different. Clothing, for instance. Men should not wear women's clothing, make-up, etc, and visa-versa.

As a man, I very much enjoy being stronger. But I do like a woman that has strength, both inner/emotional strength, as well as physical strength. But being able to lift and move things she isn't able to, I think is a great advantage of being male.

Another advantage of being male, is not having to give birth and nurse a baby. It would interrupt work, and cause a possible loss of income. I was quite proud to let my wife stay at home and work there, rather than having to seek employment, just so we could make ends meet. Some of her family and friends tried to make her feel bad about it, but we both enjoyed it. It did have the negative effect of taking us many, many more years to finally buy a house, but we made it, in the end. I really feel for those that have no choice, and both parent have to work. Very sad. (But, it is also nice, when both are able and willing.)

I won't mention what the advantages of being a woman might be. That is for women to say.

Yes, Judaism has accounted for "birth defects" that cause one's gender to be indeterminate. But, except in those cases, we don't agree with one choosing to become, supposedly, another gender. Again, this applies to Jews, not the secular world, unless it affects us directly. And again, I defer mentioning any advantages or disadvantages to those that were born as such.

Shalom,
Iyyov