Gender Differneces

So, last week in class we discussed differences in gender.
I had to watch a video that expressed concern about the feminist movement, that still seems to be taking its toll. They interviewed women who, in my opinion, had some pretty extreme ideas.
They said women needed equality--in EVERY aspect of life. This ranged from equal job opportunities to more equality in the home and even equality in prices. In one region feminists were threatening law suits against salons that charged more to do women's hair vs. men's hair--even if they could prove that it took longer and was more difficult to cut a woman's. The video also reported a fire station which video-taped a training session of their fire fighters. The purpose of the tape was to resist law suits when they did not hire a group of women. The tape clearly showed that a woman could not chop down a door as quickly as a man could (and in some cases not at all) and had trouble handling equipment (ladders, fire hose, etc). Yet a woman argued that women should have the same opportunity as men--even if it involved expenditure of the state for the purpose of providing women fire fighters with electric saws and other equipment to facilitate their jobs.
Another woman, who was against women taking jobs they could not adequately fulfill, spoke of the fact that she would rather, as a taxpayer, be carried out of a burning building by an able fireman than to be drug our by the feet and suffer injuries to her skull. In response, a feminist woman said that it was probably better to drag people out that way so they didn't have to breathe in smoke. We were probably killing people by carrying them out!
All in all, I had to laugh at some radical opinions. Do I think women are good contributors to society? Yes of course. Do I think that women can do some jobs as well or better than men? Yes of course. But most of all, I agree with President Thomas S. Monson: "Equality of rights does not imply identity of functions."
It is indisputable that women and men are different. We exhibit different behaviors! We have different interests, different attributes, and different characteristics. Women are more nurturing, socially oriented, are more likely to experience negative emotions, more likely to turn to friends for advice and support, and more complaisant. Men tend to naturally more confident, think more objectively, and are not as likely as women to participate in self-disclosure.
This list has been proven by study after study. There is even evidence in the brain that there are these differences. Yet, there are those voices who shout, "Stop all research! Stop finding truth! It is degrading to our gender!" These voices are trying to collapse the family (though they don't see it that way, of course). Boyd K. Packer said, "Even so, leaders, and especially parents, should recognize that there is a distinct masculine nature and a distinct feminine nature essential to the foundation of the home and the family. Whatever disturbs or weakens or tends to erase that difference erodes the family and reduces the probability of happiness for all concerned."
When my husband and I got married and started living together these differences became more conspicuous. Trying to make the appropriate adjustments was challenging, but helped me realize something: we were becoming more perfected. As we were adjusting to foreign traits, we became more aware of our weaknesses and strengths. We were discovering what to improve on and what we could learn from each other. Instead of being a negative experience where we were trying to "fix" the other person, we were trying to please the other person and we grew in love and harmony.
We don't have children yet, but I imagine when we do, our different roles will become more apparent in our parenting style. We will see how we compliment each other and maintain our home's peaceful atmosphere differently. I am a strong believer that our different roles are beneficial to our growth and to Heavenly Father's plan for us. What an honor it will be for me to raise our children in our home. And what an honor it has been and will continue to be for my husband to be a provider, protector, and to preside in our home. Joseph Smith aid, "If you live up to your privileges [your honors] the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates."
Can you see what a beautiful thing this is? These opportunities are not for us to fight against or "kick against the pricks" (Acts 9:5), but to be embraced and cherished.
There is a divine role in womanhood. One more quote. But I don't mean this to be demeaning towards men at all. In fact, it was given by a great man: Howard W. Hunter. I merely quote him to stress the importance of women. We should not shy away from our divine gifts to become more like men. "I suppose you would say it is a man's viewpoint to throw a burden upon a woman tp maintain the stability and the sweetness of the marriage relationship, and the opportunity to encourage, uplift, teach, and be the one who sets the example in the family for righteous living. When women come to the point of realizing that it is more important to be superior than to be equal, they will find the real joy in living those principles that the Lord set out in his divine plan."