Here is a comment from a young Italian bachelor on this blog.
It was so good, I wanted to make it into a post ~
I had always thought of woman as possessing those delicate qualities of mind and soul that made her in these respects far superior to man. I had put her on a lofty pedestal, figuratively speaking, and ranked her in certain important attributes considerably higher than man. I worshiped at the feet of the creature I had raised to this height, and, like every true worshiper, I felt myself unworthy of the object of my worship. {No, I don't believe women should EVER be worshiped. Only Jesus is worthy of our worship but he makes some great points concerning women desiring to be the same as men. He use to "highly esteem women" would have been a better choice of words.}
But all this was in the past. Now the soft-voiced gentle woman of my reverent worship has all but vanished. In her place has come the woman who thinks that her chief success in life lies in making herself as much as possible like man--in dress, voice and actions, in sports and achievements of every kind.
The world has experienced many tragedies, but to my mind the greatest tragedy of all is the present economic condition wherein women strive against men, and in many cases actually succeed in usurping their places in the professions and in industry. This growing tendency of women to overshadow the masculine is a sign of a deteriorating civilization.
Woman's determined competition with man in the business world is breaking down some of the best traditions--things which have proved the moving factors in the world's slow but substantial progress.
Practically all the great achievements of man until now have been inspired by his love and devotion to woman. Man has aspired to great things because some woman believed in him, because he wished to command her admiration and respect. For these reasons he has fought for her and risked his life and his all for her time and time again.
Perhaps the male in human society is useless. I am frank to admit that I don't know. If women are beginning to feel this way about it--and there is striking evidence at hand that they do--then we are entering upon the cruelest period of the world's history.
Our civilization will sink to a state like that which is found among the bees, ants and other insects--a state wherein the male is ruthlessly killed off. In this matriarchal empire which will be established the female rules. As the female predominates, the males are at her mercy. The male is considered important only as a factor in the general scheme of the continuity of life. The tendency of women to push aside man, supplanting the old spirit of cooperation with him in all the affairs of life, is very disappointing to me.
Woman's independence and her cleverness in obtaining what she wants in the business world is breaking down man's spirit of independence. The old fire he once experienced at being able to achieve something that would compel and hold a woman's devotion is turning to ashes.
Women don't seem to want that sort of thing today. They appear to want to control and govern. They want man to look up to them, instead of their looking up to him, so.. as a bachelor Italian man, I may understand American men who still avoid marriage and I guess they also believe that Women today become the greatest evil, as such, any good men should avoid marriage like a plague!
But let it be the hidden man of the heart,
in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price.
I Peter 3:4
Logging you in...
Becky · 538 weeks ago
thanks again. Becky
Lori Alexander 122p · 538 weeks ago
Maria · 537 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 537 weeks ago
Roxy · 537 weeks ago
I just stood by a door recently to see if the young man approaching would open it for me as I had my hands full. I told him thanks so much it was nice to see such a gentleman behavior!
Blessings, Roxy
Tamara · 537 weeks ago
Patt · 537 weeks ago
Women are doing well in business, and that makes "our" so-called civilization likely to ruthlessly kill males? Is there a reason that he thinks so? Where does and idea like that come from?
This is really not an article that makes sense to me. I always thought that men accomplished things because they are creative, curious, intelligent, ambitious, and wonderful. Why does this men think all male accomplishments in the course of history had something to do with impressing women? That's pretty demeaning to men.
It's also not very rational. At very least, if we ignore all possible noble motives, we know that a great many things have been motivated by the love of money... And I don't think of, "I want to compel a woman to adore me." -- actually qualifies as a noble motive either.
--
Nobody's useless. Just because some women begin to successfully do this-or-that job doesn't mean that men are 'useless' -- as your author imagines. There is such a thing as teamwork. Honestly, it seems like he's the one who doesn't want to engage a spirit of co-operation. "Oh, my, there's a woman on the board of directors, a woman lawyer, a woman drywaller. I guess us men are now overshadowed and useless. We might as well be dead." I. Think. Not.
There just isn't any way that it makes sense that the mere existence of clever independent women makes men any less clever or independent themselves. Ii think the only thing this man is doing is complaining that women don't look up to him, and he thinks they never will, no matter what he accomplishes. I hope that's not true. I hope he has many admirable qualities and that he finds a woman who will love and admire him wholeheartedly. This doesn't strike me as an example of anything admirable. He needs to find a source for his ambition and esteem someplace other than in gender relations.
Ken · 537 weeks ago
Although I may not agree with everything this bachelor sees and feels, I think he makes a lot of sense, even if he is not perfect in his assessment on this important matter. You and other women should know that although creativity and a sense of achievement are strong motivators for men, the greatest motivator of all is a husband’s sense of joy and privilege in accomplishing great things to both impress his wife and children, but to support them financially. We as men desire recognition for our achievements and recognition from society without recognition from our spouse is quite hurtful. That is one reason why many affairs may happen, a sense from a man that everyone around him admires him, but not his wife. She is disrespectful and takes him for granted.
As for women eating men as with insects the females devouring the males for the purpose of survival and procreation purposes, I am sure his illustration is figurative, not literal. Look at the numbers of men on the employment line or in low paying jobs because of the mass of females who now dominate the job market. Men built by nature to provide for their family now relegated to something far below their talents and what their family needs because women can do the job, perhaps equal or better, or have the opportunity to spend countless years in education that some men feel is impossible if they want a family life before 30.
Patt, there is a reason why the beast is ridden by the Harlot of Babylon. We do not know the full extent of why, but we know it relates to commerce and economics, and it would not surprise me to see the prediction of this young bachelor come true as we move past 50% of the work force made up by women. What looks so innocent on the surface, is at its heart a blow to the role and work of the male human who was not built to bear children and raise them. Such men are now becoming stay at home Dads, which is not what God intended for the majority of families, with their wives working full time because they have greater earning power. Right or wrong, now two men may be sidelined from the from their God given purpose as provider for the family unit. The one who is now at home taking care of the babies and the one who may have gotten the job the wife is in if she had stayed home to be with her children.
I know this is not politically correct thinking, and I am unwilling to cast this thinking in concrete, but this young man must make us think about what is really happening in modern society and ask the question, who should be the primary bread winners, and who should be the primary caregivers for the family? It is easy to say that any woman should have the right to be a doctor, lawyer and CEO, and with this I fully agree. But when the masses of women no longer need husbands to provide for them because physical strength and stamina are not the most rewarded commodities in the work place, it is here that thoughtful people must at least acknowledge that society is radically changing and the female becoming a more dominant and demanding presence, perhaps close to surpassing men in numbers and value in the workplace. Do we believe this is God’s design, or perhaps Satan’s design for how he ultimately rides the Beast of Babylon (world commerce and materialism)?
I believe it is likely that Babylon the Great is the dominance of commerce and materialism which is does indeed rule the world far more than politics and religion. Economics, money, business, commerce is the way Satan ushers in his final kingdom and rules the world. With women playing a larger role in commerce around the world, how does this ultimately impact where the world goes, and how Satan gains ultimate control? We don’t have those answers, but let us not discount this young man’s legitimate concerns going forward, that many men will find themselves impotent to impress a woman, nor gain her admiration. And without her respect sees no reason to marry into a relationship that puts him at odds with his god given roles and natural purposes in life.
The reader should recognize that my end times thoughts are speculative, but the issue of of the advancing negative attitudes of men towards women, and vice versa is accelerating. For an interesting perspective look at the following to see that this young man is not the only one seeing that things are spiraling the wrong direction for the traditional marriage and family. Women no longer will settle for just a good man who will love them all their life and be a good father. No, they want more, and many men just want a traditional woman, not this high powered executive who cannot admire her man for his natural gifts and masculinity.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/11/24/war-on-...
HappyHomemaker · 537 weeks ago
Patt · 537 weeks ago
I'm thinking that we all need to embrace godliness rather than worldliness. None of the great men of the Bible have shown the slightest indication that they were motivated by women in their accomplishments.
As you know, I think it is very healthy for spouses and families to support, recognize and affirm one another. It would indeed be very painful for a spouse to do without that.
Also, it's a relief that even you don't think that a murderous all-female regime is likely to take over society. I think men and women were created by God for the good work of ruling the garden and the world together... I don't know why you are going with natural philosophy and gender-essentialism instead of the Bible on this point.
It's fairly clear that both men and women are capable of the direct nurture of young children, and that this dual capacity is part of God's design for reproduction. Provision of resources is a big part of that nurture. The two-task model is not found in the Bible, but it is found frequently in worldly philosophy.
I don't believe it is God's design for anyone to be dominant or demanding. In workplaces (which are a feature of society, not a part of God's design) I think it makes sense for the most capable people to do whatever jobs they excel at.
There are thousands of ways to impress women. Admirable men are everywhere! Being employed as a man employed in an all-male profession (or not) isn't particularly attractive or unattractive. It's just not really the part of a man that has a lot of weight in how women choose dates or become attracted to a man. I don't think they really even ask that question. Whether or not a man is good, kind and pleasant, has 'natural gifts' that she finds attractive -- whether he will will love us for our whole lives, if he would make a good father -- yes, Ken... that *IS* what women are still looking for. That's not 'settling'! What else could anyone want?
Attraction really doesn't have anything to do with workplace gender ratios, that I can tell. Except maybe it's the traditional men who aren't interested in successful working women? I guarantee that successful working women are still interested in men!
Ken · 537 weeks ago
I am not opposed to women working in the workplace, and I am a strong believer in equal opportunity and equal pay for women. But I also believe that Christian women need to explore what God wants for their lives and not discount being Suzy Homemaker just because the rest of the world is screaming go to college and get a job.
You do understand that what is best for one individual is not always best for society, right? Men can't have babies and are not built to nurture them, even if some become stay at home Dads. If more and more women take over the higher paying professional jobs, it leaves fewer choices for men who want to meet their family obligations without their wife working. So more women who would prefer to be stay at home mom's end up working to help the family survive. These are just the facts, a vicious cycle of more and more women being forced to work because other women may have taken their husband's potentially higher paying job.
I am sorry your husband is disabled, and by all means work, but that is not God's ideal for most families, especially Christian families. If you are not a Christian you are welcome to do whatever you choose. As for benching 250 as a woman, that is impressive, but not something I want my wife to be doing.
tmichelle1 66p · 537 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 537 weeks ago
Ksdee · 537 weeks ago
HappyHomemaker · 537 weeks ago
Genny · 537 weeks ago
Cynthia · 537 weeks ago
donalgraeme 22p · 537 weeks ago
First, women in the workplace do displace men. That is just the way it is. Especially in the present job market for young folks (Millennial generation), jobs are scarce. With so few to go around, there aren't enough for both men and women. Someone has to do without. Since men are expected to have a job to provide for a family, this impacts their ability to marry or marry well. If jobs weren't scarce this wouldn't be so much of an issue.
Second, women, for all their claims that men objectify them, are in many instances projecting. Many men feel like women evaluate them as walking ATMs when it comes to marriage. And of course, that is only after women even decide they want to marry.
Third, I can't begin to tell you how many women I know are putting marriage off as long as possible. Some smart ones don't, but plenty do.
Fourth, femininity has all but disappeared from most women these days. Whole books could be written on the subject. Its frankly disturbing to see women acting just like men, and that is what I mostly see these days.
Jokes used to be made in the past about how men did their best to avoid marriage. Well, whether or not that was true back then, its going to be increasingly the case nowadays.
Cynthia · 537 weeks ago
Also, while it might sound crass, wouldn't a young women who plans to be a stay-at-home mother need to consider if a potential husband could support the family on one income? It might not be realistic to marry a man with no solid career plans or one who lacks ambition.
Anne · 536 weeks ago
rrprewett 1p · 537 weeks ago
Back in my day, there were quite a few guys who tried to impress me with their qualifications as a walking ATM machine. They loved to talk about their careers, their educations, their future plans. In fact, many of them were so adamant that a man identity himself by his career that "What do you do?" was one of the first questions they would ask upon meeting another man.
My husband was a radical departure from this. He had every reason to brag about his professional success on our first date — in fact, I was shocked that he never raised the topic at all. During our first or second date, I was amazed to discover something about him unlike any other young man that is ever met, and it was this quality that made me fall in love with him:
My husband defines himself by his relationship with God.
Do you as a man want to be admired for something other than your earning potential? Then be something else, something far, far more.
The Bible tells us to seek the Kingdom of God first. That means even before successful husbands and feminine, submissive wives. Frankly, I'm tired of Christian blogs being full of people whining about their disappointments with the opposite sex, that not enough men/women meet their particular standards, that not enough men/women make them feel good about themselves. The reason society is in the mess it's in is not because women aren't meeting some cultural norms of femininity but because people are rebelling against God and even the Church is not putting His Kingdom first.
It's the sin of Adam all over again, including the part where he blamed the woman for his own sin.
Stop the blame-shifting and finger-pointing. It's time that, if we name the name of Jesus, we refuse to point a finger at anyone other than back at our individual selves, time for us to repent, time for us to put God first in our lives.
raphenroch 9p · 536 weeks ago