What do you personally consider to be feminine and masculine qualities?

[Elena321]

Masculinity is characterized by initiation (but not domination), and femininity is characterized by receptivity (but not passivity). We must remember, though, women’s hugely important role in showing men how to be receptive towards God (since this quality is not characteristicly masculine). Our Lady, with her fiat, was the perfect model of receptivity, but all women are her inheritors.

Read more here: catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/feminism/pope-john-paul-ii-s-teaching-on-women.html

What does Pope John Paul 2 mean by this in the article please?

In section 10, “He Shall Rule over You”, ?.. The penalties of that fateful choice constitute the fallen state into which all of us are born, a state in which, as God said to Eve, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gen 3:I6). Eve’s love for Adam, now desire rather than self-gift, is the refusal of her own dignity as a woman. Adam, dominating Eve rather than loving her, violates not only her dignity and vocation as a woman, but his own dignity and vocation as a man (DVW, pp. 33-41)

Is he suggesting a man should rule over a woman or am I misunderstanding it?

 

[ShrodingersCat]

What does Pope John Paul 2 mean by this in the article please?

In section 10, “He Shall Rule over You”, ?.. The penalties of that fateful choice constitute the fallen state into which all of us are born, a state in which, as God said to Eve, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gen 3:I6). Eve’s love for Adam, now desire rather than self-gift, is the refusal of her own dignity as a woman. Adam, dominating Eve rather than loving her, violates not only her dignity and vocation as a woman, but his own dignity and vocation as a man (DVW, pp. 33-41)

Is he suggesting a man should rule over a woman or am I misunderstanding it?

Well in that particular quote, it sounds to me like he’s talking about the negative effects the fall had on how men and women relate to each other. It should be mutual self-giving but we each fail to live up to that in different ways.

 

[AdamP88]

(Bit nervous to start a new thread…)

Would you consider your views on feminine and masculine to be formed by the Catholic Church,or by culture,or “traditional” things such as traditional roles in home and society etc?

For example:do you think women can be feminine and play sport or do you think sport naturally makes women less feminine etc?

I think my view on masculinity and femininity comes from my view of life and the human person through the lens of the faith and the teachings of the Church.

I think it’s less about the specific “things” that we do or actions that are specifically manly or feminine. I would say that a man who is a top class athlete may express his masculinity in that way. But a woman who does the same sport may express her femininity in that way too. I think it’s more about how a man/woman embraces who they are as a person and accepts and expresses the person they are rather than “tries” to be masculine or feminine.

My fiancee tells me that I’m very masculine and appreciates certain things that I do that she says are “masculine”. DIY around the home or in the garden or doing my favourite sport etc. To me though, those things are just a part of who I am and I do them naturally. For her, she sees in them an expression of masculinity.

Hope that makes some sense.

 

[Elena321]

Well in that particular quote, it sounds to me like he’s talking about the negative effects the fall had on how men and women relate to each other. It should be mutual self-giving but we each fail to live up to that in different ways.

Thanks.

 

[Elena321]

For me,it seems that some activities can make a woman more masculine or maybe it’s not the activity itself,but rather how she goes about it.
Eg:two women may play soccer (football) but one may play with finess and clever ball skill but the other may play relying on strength,over competitiveness and aggression (eg: pushing other players over).

The second player to me would seem more masculine but maybe she/other people wouldn’t agree?

What would everyone class as feminine qualities apart from receptiveness to giving birth or do you feel gender differences are just stereotypes and shouldn’t matter?

I agree that a lot of people are a combination of both.For example I like both dancing and diy stuff.

 

[AdamP88]

For me,it seems that some activities can make a woman more masculine or maybe it’s not the activity itself,but rather how she goes about it.
Eg:two women may play soccer (football) but one may play with finess and clever ball skill but the other may play relying on strength,over competitiveness and aggression (eg: pushing other players over).

The second player to me would seem more masculine but maybe she/other people wouldn’t agree?

What would everyone class as feminine qualities apart from receptiveness to giving birth or do you feel gender differences are just stereotypes and shouldn’t matter?

I agree that a lot of people are a combination of both.For example I like both dancing and diy stuff.

I don’t think it’s just stereotypes. There are definite differences in the way men and women think. I know that just from living at home with my sisters. And obviously in the way we are physically. But I do think masculinity and femininity are somewhat hard to pin down sometimes.

Like, you can have a woman who is somewhat masculine or a man who is a little too effeminate.