- Joined
- Feb 26, 2017
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I want to create a setting that is similiar to our world, but with different notions of "masculine" and "feminine" traits. I've read works of fiction that involve matriarchies, in which all women are very aggressive and go to war, while men become passive and stay at home to care for children. This seems unrealistic, as it seems to simply change gender roles and turn women into men, and vice versa. I want to create something that feels more authentic.*
What I want to do is changing what society values instead of simply change gender roles. Society would place more worth on feminine rather than masculine stereotypes, and view what it means to be men and women differently. For instance: traditional western notions of masculinity revolves around strength, aggression, boldness, etc. In this world, this would be interpreted as arrogance, impatience, and emotional. They are very loyal to their friends, and quick to form attachments. However, they are hot headed and rash. Quick to anger, quick to laugh is the best way to describe it: scrapping with each other over some imagined slight to their honor to laughing at the incident over a few beers. This argument leads many to believe that males should not lead a country.
In contrast, femininity is associated with being more passive, emotionally complicated, mothering, etc. In this world, women would be characterized as more rational and wise in their decision making. They form bonds less quickly, and are more clinical in their decision making, taking the long view of things, and ultimately knows what is best. They are slow to anger, but when roused, can be vicious and cruel. Women can hold grudges for long periods of time, and it is difficult to forget past slights.
These are just stereotypes and ideals that society supports and want the sees to live up to, but I don't want everyone to just go along with them. People will react to the culture in different ways. I am not aiming for a utopia where everything is perfect because women rule the world, or a dystopia. I would like it to be a world with its highs and lows. Is this a believable inverse of masculine and feminine traits?
What I want to do is changing what society values instead of simply change gender roles. Society would place more worth on feminine rather than masculine stereotypes, and view what it means to be men and women differently. For instance: traditional western notions of masculinity revolves around strength, aggression, boldness, etc. In this world, this would be interpreted as arrogance, impatience, and emotional. They are very loyal to their friends, and quick to form attachments. However, they are hot headed and rash. Quick to anger, quick to laugh is the best way to describe it: scrapping with each other over some imagined slight to their honor to laughing at the incident over a few beers. This argument leads many to believe that males should not lead a country.
In contrast, femininity is associated with being more passive, emotionally complicated, mothering, etc. In this world, women would be characterized as more rational and wise in their decision making. They form bonds less quickly, and are more clinical in their decision making, taking the long view of things, and ultimately knows what is best. They are slow to anger, but when roused, can be vicious and cruel. Women can hold grudges for long periods of time, and it is difficult to forget past slights.
These are just stereotypes and ideals that society supports and want the sees to live up to, but I don't want everyone to just go along with them. People will react to the culture in different ways. I am not aiming for a utopia where everything is perfect because women rule the world, or a dystopia. I would like it to be a world with its highs and lows. Is this a believable inverse of masculine and feminine traits?