Feminists argue it's important to have role models in order to create...

[Roger]

...opportunities for girl....but? Why is it not the same for boys? If boys saw role models in the traditionally female role for instance; caring for one, wouldn't this prepare boys better for sharing the role with wives re: the children?

This would surely help women too by alleviating stress over family vs career.

Feminists might argue this is for men to do which is half correct but it is also feminism (for women) for them to help start this off too so they are helping women in this way.

 

[CAustinII]

Yes, actually.

The deliberate engineering of role models in key environments is a tactic that's being used more commonly, to great success, among those interested in actually promoting diversity in recalcitrant fields without having to invoke new bigotries in the form of affirmative action and special treatment (which are generally counterproductive - if your demographic gets special treatment, it has a detrimental effect on the quality of your credentials) - as it turns out, the only thing a lot of young people need to get inspired for nontraditional careers is to see someone like them being successful in something they never even considered before - and perhaps most importantly, being admired and respected for it.

My personal experience involves taking highly successful and motivated 'nontraditionals' in the fields of engineering and research physics (women, who are drastically underrepresented, and also certain racial demographics in similar situations) and simply exposing high schools that export large numbers of college students to demographically diverse role models talking about their careers. The effect is surprising to those unfamiliar with it - the effect is immediate, significant, and lasting.

While I don't have direct experience with similar efforts in fields where men are underrepresented (e.g. medicine, early education, social services, etc.), I've read quite a bit coming out of those fields suggesting similar successes. This is absolutely a method we should be utilizing more.

 

[sweetwickedgrl]

Yes, and feminists do, in fact, argue for this.

 

[Thereyouare]

Having a strong female role model only helps if there is a good lesson to take away.

If the lesson from the stay at home mom is: "Parents take care of children" then so much the better.

The thing is, if the message is: "Mothers take care of children" because the working father doesn't do a THING with the kids- then there is your problem.

Regardless of what traditional roles either sex plays- its the relationship between mother and father that is key.

If Mom says home, and Dad works, but the son watches his henpecked father scurry around the house trying to avoid the wrath of his wife- THIS is is what he is going to take away. THIS is what he is going to learn.

The Mother can stay at home or work. I truly don't think it matters- it's the relationship between the Mother and father is key- are decisions made by both? Is one overtly dominate then the other? Does one make key decisions while the other timidly accepts?

These factors are really the most important.

 

[thing550011]

Of course boys need role models, and they have them ~ President of the United States, world's best known and most powerful job, just as an example.

Not a bad role model I would have thought.

What's the equivalent for girls?

Marry a prince and be a princess?

Cheers

 

[DeityofPeace]

People (meaning men and women) have stress over families and careers. Fathers stress over working a higher paying job to take care of their families and mothers stress over receiving job training to gain employment to assist with the household income. Do not forget that there are single mothers and fathers in this world who work full time while taking care of their children as well. It's not just women who worry about their family and careers. And who says that women stress over having a family vs. a career? Most women who work and have families do this because they want to assist their husbands with taking care of the kids, or they chose to work so that they can have money of their own. Being a woman doesn't mean you only chose in this world is to stay at home and take care of kids. And it doesn't mean that this is the life that every woman chooses.

And any child's upbringing is the responsibility of their parents. My mother taught my brothers the same self-caring task she taught my sister and I. They rotated washing clothes, dishes, vacuuming and cleaning various areas of the house with us. No one was left out of specific task based on sex. We all pitched in and took care of our household, one another and our family pets.

And just a hint for you and some of the male users here (not all of you because some of you actually 'get it'), Caring for someone is not a 'traditionally female' role. It's only traditional in your eyes because you're under the assumption that only women do this or this is a 'woman's job'. Doctors (both male and female) care for people; as well as male and female nurses, physical therapist, psychologist and nutritionist, cardiologist and guidance councilors, personal trainers, teachers/educators, motivational speakers, cooks, flight attendants, EMT's, life guards, and policemen and women. These are examples of 'care-takers' who cater to everyone who's in need. And there are men and women who dawn these titles proudly that are a positive inspiration to future generations. People you like you can't see past a person sex because you're so ready to place labels on people based on what you assume his/her role in society should be.