Generic Phrases

Why do people genderize relationship issues?

If someone, male or female, act or react a certain way in a relationship, and someone feels like commenting on that behavior, their analysis is often followed by a generic statement that begins with phrases such as -- "Women tend to ..." "Men always ..." Can we get past these catch-phrases? Are books such as Dr. John Gray's "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus" evidence that society still wants to believe in gender conventions? Great comments guys (except Mike T's, which is seriously lacking anything resembling a thought process!). I agree that it's a cop-out. Sometimes it's even funny, how simplistic the reasoning is. I'd like to see South Park or someone do a spoof on it. Mike - Although, you could also characterize my response as an aggressive, personal attack.

Public Comments

1. So we will have compassion for the weaker sex-men. JK. I don't like it either because it gives folks excuses to blame on "nature" instead of our choices.
2. Because women DO tend to, and some men ALWAYS. It's just a fact that certain genders are predisposed to certain personality traits.
3. I don't know why people do it, but it seriously p!sses me off, because I fit the MALE stereotype, not the whiney emotional female one... and I hate that people casually say, "oh, you sound just like a man" because I am CLEARLY not a man, I just have a realistic and natural view of love and sex as opposed to the soppy rubbish we're fed as young women by movies and novels and fairytales.
4. I think your last question answers your first. But I also think younger people are beginning to see gender roles as more murky than the previous generation, so we're trending away from that--hopefully, we continue to do so.
5. I don't do it. In fact, I asked a question recently regarding financial support in a relationship and how people automatically assume that if a man is supporting a woman, she's manipulative, and he's a moron that's being used. I think that's a pretty cynical and sexist view to have. I wish we didn't make those generalizations/assumptions. And yes, sometimes they're true. They may even be true more often than not, but that alone is not a valid excuse or explanation for an individual's behavior and there are always exceptions. People are more complex than that and many factors influence their actions. "Well, women are like that." No, that's a copout, and some women aren't and some men are. It's just pointless to me. Of course there are gender differences, but I don't like when they're applied to relationship issues. Those generalizations are so common that they're basically accepted... It's how they're raised, the media, personal experiences, etc... If something is pounded into your head enough, I guess you're going to run with it.
6. The problem with those "generalizations" is that.. um.. they are usually TRUE 9 our of 10 times. Women do.. this and men DO... that... and that's just how it is. Is it a generalization to say that men pee standing up and women pee sitting down? Both can do the opposite, but USUALLY DON'T EDIT: Just because you disagree with my answer, that doesn't mean you have to insult it. Its another generalization/stereotype that women are overly-emotional... and in your case thats true... based on your response.
7. Because it's easy.