response to ashley

Hey Ashley,
i totaly agree with you about the gender and masculinty roles that men provide. I feel that there is a lot of pressure for men to act a certain macho way and that yes, a lot of times it stems from a male role figure such as a father. But, let's be serious what exactly is a real man? Who makes up these definitions? Gender influences begin at an early age and i think it's important to encourage kids to think for themselves instead of just copy what their parents do. They could benefit from the teachings of both of their parents and it is important to give credit to the single mom's out there raising good kids. My mom was a single parent for years and I give her incredible kudoos for raising 3 kids while still holding down a job and going to school. And through all of that she never made me feel like I was lacking a male figure in my life I simply embraced her as a figure of intelligence.