These days, what does maturing actually entail?
Personally, the idea of growing up seems like an immensely benign task, partly because working seems like it sucks, and partly because the responsibility that comes with adulthood. I guess that's why I want to be immature as long as possible, maturity seems to add far more problems than solutions. In Noboru's world, a mature man and a mature woman have such defined roles, but I find that these roles are more universal and not simply just a "child's" view of the world. The "man" is forced into a life of solitude; that of a sailor, while the "women" is the damsel in distress, waiting for her lover to return. In many ways, this still occurs in North America. The social pressures on men and women are beginning to ease, but turn on the TV or walk into a horror movie and you'll start to see the different roles right away. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the image of the man, sitting with all his vigor and might, comforting the scared woman while they both watch a scary movie. It's sad that even kids like Noboru are enculturated with these views; even at that young, subtle age he was able to see that the men had the might and that the woman were easily objectified. That idea is truly distasteful.
I wish people would refrain from implying the social aspects that come with gender, and instead view it from a more biological, perhaps anatomical point of view. I guess that's why I treasure youth so much; we aren't as burdened by these roles and are socially allowed to "slip-up". The topic genuinely intrigues me, as the other day one of my peers was telling someone else to "be a man", specifically because the "man" was talking too much about his emotions. As I heard the conversation, I joked about it and replied with "this isn't the 14th century, men are allowed to have feelings now". I guess I played the idea off as a joke, but the matter seems more serious now that I reflect back on it.
I truly love being young, but sometimes, the ignorance that propagates within the teenage community disheartens me.
Personally, the idea of growing up seems like an immensely benign task, partly because working seems like it sucks, and partly because the responsibility that comes with adulthood. I guess that's why I want to be immature as long as possible, maturity seems to add far more problems than solutions. In Noboru's world, a mature man and a mature woman have such defined roles, but I find that these roles are more universal and not simply just a "child's" view of the world. The "man" is forced into a life of solitude; that of a sailor, while the "women" is the damsel in distress, waiting for her lover to return. In many ways, this still occurs in North America. The social pressures on men and women are beginning to ease, but turn on the TV or walk into a horror movie and you'll start to see the different roles right away. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the image of the man, sitting with all his vigor and might, comforting the scared woman while they both watch a scary movie. It's sad that even kids like Noboru are enculturated with these views; even at that young, subtle age he was able to see that the men had the might and that the woman were easily objectified. That idea is truly distasteful.
I wish people would refrain from implying the social aspects that come with gender, and instead view it from a more biological, perhaps anatomical point of view. I guess that's why I treasure youth so much; we aren't as burdened by these roles and are socially allowed to "slip-up". The topic genuinely intrigues me, as the other day one of my peers was telling someone else to "be a man", specifically because the "man" was talking too much about his emotions. As I heard the conversation, I joked about it and replied with "this isn't the 14th century, men are allowed to have feelings now". I guess I played the idea off as a joke, but the matter seems more serious now that I reflect back on it.
I truly love being young, but sometimes, the ignorance that propagates within the teenage community disheartens me.
Go eat icecream. -BJ
ReplyDeleteIcecream is the remedy for all of life's problems haha
ReplyDelete