Yes, well - I haven't read his article, and perhaps his observation's very valid for the Midwest. I will also agree that women have considerable pressure placed upon them to be extraverted as well.
However, it's not been in my experience for women to be encouraged to be extremely social. Perhaps it's my limited exposure to the outgoing lifestyle, but I've been brought up in circles that the extremely extraverted women are often mocked and considered highly undesirable, often labelled as "trouble."
The pressures might differ around various regions of the country. Perhaps Southern and Midwestern culture encourages the "Southern Hospitality" type behaviour from women, which is at an introverted woman's disadvantage. However, maybe in the Northeast and in California, the introverted, standoffish woman is more acceptable. While I can understand that women who do not speak often are may be construed as timid, withdrawn, and haughty... but sometimes people find that attractive. Again, extraverted hegemony manifesting itself.
I guess what this country needs is a good, healthy dose that embraces individual differences on a fundamental level that go beyond race, gender, and sexual orientation, and start looking at basic core personality attributes. I believe, when it all comes down to it, people's preferences in how they choose to behave in social settings and what personalities of people they want to interact with is a very individual choice... and that a "one-style-fits-all" approach is just irrational thinking.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 07:35 am (UTC)However, it's not been in my experience for women to be encouraged to be extremely social. Perhaps it's my limited exposure to the outgoing lifestyle, but I've been brought up in circles that the extremely extraverted women are often mocked and considered highly undesirable, often labelled as "trouble."
The pressures might differ around various regions of the country. Perhaps Southern and Midwestern culture encourages the "Southern Hospitality" type behaviour from women, which is at an introverted woman's disadvantage. However, maybe in the Northeast and in California, the introverted, standoffish woman is more acceptable. While I can understand that women who do not speak often are may be construed as timid, withdrawn, and haughty... but sometimes people find that attractive. Again, extraverted hegemony manifesting itself.
I guess what this country needs is a good, healthy dose that embraces individual differences on a fundamental level that go beyond race, gender, and sexual orientation, and start looking at basic core personality attributes. I believe, when it all comes down to it, people's preferences in how they choose to behave in social settings and what personalities of people they want to interact with is a very individual choice... and that a "one-style-fits-all" approach is just irrational thinking.