English1020classblog’s Weblog

As I will repeat at the end, the following post is simply me spewing out many different thoughts on the subject of gender and homosexuality.  I warn you, it’s almost at the point of stream of consciousness…so good luck:

My parents are very supportive of the career path that I have chosen, but every time I say to my dad “I don’t know what tool that is”, or “What part of the car?” I always get that “wow, you don’t know where the carburetor is?” or “the WRENCH, dip shit!” look, whether he actually says it out loud or not.  Cars and tools are and always have been a way of life for my father.  He finished our entire basement (which is definitely not small) all by himself!  He is always fixing things for family members, and whenever something with a car goes wrong- he’s the man to go to. 

And then there’s me: the theatre major that doesn’t know a catalytic converter from a starter, but can apply makeup for the stage with flying colors.  Yes, I know the differences between base, bronzer, mascara, and shadow, but what the hell is an Allen wrench used for?

We are, every single one of us, victims of male/female stereotypes, but you didn’t need me to tell you that.  We live it every day.  Because I can’t tell what’s wrong with a car by listening to the way the engine sounds, that somehow makes me less of a man.  And because my good (female) friend likes to play video games, watch football, drink beer, and isn’t afraid of…gassy bodily functions, that somehow make her less of a woman.  When did these stereotypes form to begin with?  Why is it weird that a girl knows more about football than I do (which she definitely does not, I assure you )? 

In some ways I am very much so a “man’s man”- I love sports, women, and beer.  But, in other ways, I am so opposite of the “man’s man” it scares my uncles- I love women for their minds (they’re simply smarter than men on…like…everything!), I prefer a cranberry and vodka over a beer (as much as I enjoy beer), I have a makeup kit that is my own (for the stage) and I know how to use the things that are inside of it!  I know absolutely nothing about cars other than how to turn them on and off.  And, gasp, I have many homosexual friends.  That boggles the minds of my extended family.  They spend their time making jokes about homosexuality (among other things), whereas I spend my time loving my friends for whom they are.  Does that make me a better person?  I would never say I am better than anyone else, but I will say that I am a more accepting person than some (but then, who I am to accept anyone?  Why should anyone need or want my acceptance?).  I simply am open-minded because I feel that people are people regardless of race, sex, or sexual orientation. 

And how does who we fall in love with decide, at all, if we would be good parents?  The fact that a friend of mine asked a group of us at rehearsal last night “do you think gay couples should be allowed to adopt children” makes me want to cry!  Why is this even a question today?  If a couple is fit enough, they should be able to give the love in their hearts to a young child and raise them well, no matter if it is a man and a women, two men, or two women.  Sure, I am aware that it may be a “different” experience for a child who grows up with two daddies or two mommies instead of one mommy and one daddy, but “different” does not equal worse.  You should be able to adopt regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation- if someone is financially and mentally able to raise a child, who the hell are we to tell them they can’t?

Wow, I have never a more difficult time putting a thought together than with this blog post.  There is so much to talk about, yet I can think of no one point to stick with.  But, I guess as with any good blog, I got to say some things that I just wanted to say, if for no other reason than for self-gratification.  And there you have it- one post with absolutely no point except that I obviously have a complex with the fact that I can’t fix a damned car!  =)  Who knew?!

~Branden Chowen