Deseret News | BYU Education Week: Valuing gender differences

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BYU Education Week: Valuing gender differences

Where's the beef? | 1:33 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

An article with a GREAT storyline but why didn't the author discuss more of the differences and how they might be beneficial in a husband/wife marriage?

Struggling in my marriage (even after 21 years) and knowing those differences and their value could be handy.

ramper | 2:29 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

I'm sorry, but those pictures that show Adam and Eve looking like they just came out of a hair salon really get me. Hair stylists back in the beginning? Pizza shops maybe, but not salons.

JAYEG | 3:20 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

I thought they bore an amazing resemblance to a couple of Zoobies I knew in college, if you disregard the fact they're dressed identically in matching dresses.

But she's got Farah Fawcett wings and everything.

Comments continue below

My 2 cents | 3:48 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

haha the picture is lame but the purpose of the article is nice. It's to say we're equal, not that men are stupid and women aren't or to say men can drive and women can't or that all women like shopping and all men like cars.

There are biological differences in the way our brains work that can make a woman who likes cars argue with her husband who enjoys cooking in the same way that a woman who has a ton of shoes argues with her husband who likes to hunt. None of that matters. What matters is that regardless of our interests or how masculine or feminine we are, we ALL need to help each other at home and at work and with life in general. We all need to listen to our spouses and to do our best to understand where they are coming from. Differences in the way we think can get in the way, but as long as we're trying and we don't reduce each other to "he's a stupid man" and "she's a flighty woman" we'll all be ok.

JAYEG | 5:26 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

I've valued gender differences since I was a wee bairn.

But I respect the rights of those who value their OWN gender similarities as well.

Sister Jenson | 7:20 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

So THAT is what we are calling "sexism" in the Church these days? "Gender Differences"?

OK, I will have to remember that euphemism and buzz word!

Why aren't women called to serve in positions of authority in the Church? "Gender Differences"

Why don't young women's programs get the attention, emphasis and funding that the young men's programs get? "Gender Differences"

Why are young men strongly encouraged to go to college and establish a career, but young women are systematically taught to aspire to be stay at home moms? "Gender Differences"

Why do men dominate the teaching and administrative positions in the Church Education System? "Gender Differences"

I understand now. I just needed to learn the new "double speak" in the Church. Thanks for clearing that up.

Anonymous | 7:26 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

Nice picture. Can you lend a little credibility to an article. Jeeze, once again how embarrassing can the DNEWS be.

JAYEG | 7:37 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

It has been speculated by many since Joseph Smith was laid to rest, that when he organized the Relief Society, he intended it to be the female branch of the Priesthood, with Emma as Queen over the Priestesses...to his King over Priests.

Of course that notion was stomped out very quickly by Brigham Young...and he just as quickly revoked the priesthood blessings from such blacks as had already been ordained...and stated that the Lord forbade any further ordinations of blacks.

Since Joseph had already been ordaining blacks...one must assume that either Joseph, or Brigham wasn't operating under God's direction.

JAYEG | 7:39 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

As a lifelong member of the LDS faith, and a bearer of the Melchizedek Priesthood...I would like to say that I would welcome women into the Priesthood. I would also welcome women in the First Presidency...and not just as Relief Society President.

Perhaps the Community of Christ has it right after all.

Scary man | 7:50 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009

It kind of seems to me that Brigham Young went against a lot of what Joseph Smith taught. Brigham Young had a very controlling nature about him. I have read his discourses and Brigham Young was a frightful vengeful person. I would never had followed the man to Utah. Woman had no chance being poor once they got to Utah, in pioneer times. Brigham even told the women who they would marry in polygamy.

Sarah | 1:03 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

I don't remember being told I had to be an uneducated stay-at-home-mom. And don't feel less welcome into the church for being a successful woman. I'd rather not have the added responsibility that is the priesthood, although my understanding is that since women are naturally more spiritually inclined and in tune, we don't need it. Priesthood isn't necessarily a right that men have. It's a responsibility. Naturally (since most men prefer not to do the dirty work) women have more responsibility raising kids. Regardless of what people say, it's true. It's not a "right" but it is a sacred responsibility. Priesthood gives men no "right" to rule over women. It is an added responsibility that ensures that they are living their lives in a way that God dictates. There is such a thing as unrighteous dominion and many men (being men) think that having the priesthood gives them the right to boss us around. The gospel is perfect. People aren't.

Anonymous | 6:27 p.m. Aug. 19, 2009

Sarah,

You have swallowed the patriarchal rhetoric and BS hook, line, and sinker! How pathetic!

To Anonymous from Sarah | 12:34 p.m. Aug. 20, 2009

How pathetic that you think because I BELIEVE something, which I figured out on my own btw (I didn't go to church for many years, particularly those when those concepts would have been taught),that I have been brainwashed.

How pathetic that you think that everyone who believes in something you don't must somehow be either more gullible or less intelligent than you.

I GUARANTEE you that I've been to more churches than you have and that I have studied more religious scripture (not only LDS). I GUARANTEE that I've gained a better understanding of MY personal beliefs through not assuming that those with beliefs contrary to mine are idiots.

Do life your way and I'll do life mine. Or is that "pathetic?"

Anonymous | 3:50 p.m. Aug. 20, 2009

OK Sarah, put your money where your mouth is.

List the Churches of which you have been a member, and I will list mine.

List the advanced degrees you have in theology and I will list mine.

More importantly, list the number of Women's Studies authors you have read (or even heard of) and I will list mine.

Then we will see how pathetic your naivete really is.

Ready, Set, Go--

Sarah | 12:23 p.m. Aug. 21, 2009

Ok I will. Here are the churches that I have attended:

Catholic
Protestant
Baptist
Lutheran
Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox
Buddhist (although not a church per se, but a religious group)
Hindu
Jewish

I don't have degrees in theology, but I have taken classes and studied religious texts including:
The Quran
Bible, Apocrypha
Tao Te Ching
Book of Mormon, D&C
Torah
Bhagavad Gita

My point wasn't that I know more than you. My point was that I have the ability to choose the religion that is right for ME. Your religion is right for YOU. Just because you don't believe what I do means that you can mock me for my beliefs. I am not simply a brainless follower who believes what I am told to believe. If you don't believe in the LDS faith, that's 100% fine. But my belief in it doesn't make me stupid or less independent as a woman.

And well, if my guarantee was unfounded or premature, fine. My point is still the same. Let us worship in peace.

I'm anything but naive. Unless you call accepting people with other faiths as naive.

SFC RET DENNIS | 5:02 p.m. Aug. 21, 2009

Sister Jenson | 7:20 p.m. Aug. 18, 2009, I don’t know where you get your info but you are wrong, I have never know anyone in authority or scripture that gives the info you spout. The priesthood is not a right for anyone. This topic came up once in Gospel Doctoren class and a sister put it this way, "God gave women the right to create life in their womb, and man nothing and so he gave them the priesthood", this was her words, so if women had the priesthood then they have two great gifts from
God and man one, you won't fair so where is the fairness in that?

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