A Discourse on Men, Manners and the Modern Woman

I'm not a fan of those women who are constantly bashing men. You know the ones. Not just the die-hard feminists who scoff at a man holding open the door for them, but also the ones who always seem to be rolling their eyes while their husbands share a story or constantly theorizing about a would-be beau's ulterior motives. The ones who at first glance seem to like men (because they're with one, right?) but rarely offer praise in support of these men that are so integral to their daily lives. It's a downfall of modern culture that, in the process of asserting ourselves, we women have let a pervading sense of doubt and condescension infiltrate just about every interaction we have with men. And then we wonder why the world is plagued with unhappy relationships… 

Don't get me wrong; I'm not putting men on a pedestal here. But neither should we women be so quick to put ourselves on one. Sure, I've been mistreated by men (see: long list of various ex-boyfriends and dates gone horribly awry), but I've also been loved, supported and educated by men. It is my girlfriends that comfort and hold me, but it is the men in my life who, without fail, have challenged me to be a better person. They are the ones to bluntly tell me when I'm in the wrong, demand that I do better, encourage me to step outside my comfort zone. They are the guiding lights that keep me moving steadily on course. I can name more men than women who have played a strong role in who I am as a person – and this is coming from a woman who grew up without a father.

We know it's wrong to condemn an entire race, religion or culture based upon the actions of a few, so why are we so quick to do so with an entire sex?  How about embracing the concept of equality we fought so hard for and really applying it? I advise that we approach our men the same way we would instill lessons in our children. We want our children to be confident and capable but we wouldn't want them to feel this way simply as a byproduct of highlighting someone else's imperfections. We would want them to gain strength through not only their own behavior and accomplishments, but also by praising others'. A true sign of a strong, independent woman is her willingness to freely give trust, support and love. Let's try treating our men the same way we ask them to treat us, as equals – no pedestals, no condescension, just the faith that we are all trying our best, messing up, carrying on, and trying again. We women are just as prone to folly as men are, maybe more so because we tend to think we aren't.