Hi.

I get depressed thinking of my gender and how i belong to the weaker of the two sexes. Then i think that this is why i have depression or why i'm unemployed, or why i'm (insert random thing) . . . because it's symptomatic of my gender.

Depressing.

[madisgram]

IT, do you feel comfortable elaborating? from your post i'm thinkng you feel women are weak. some women may be weak as some men. that's an overgeneralizing remark i think tho.
weak/wēk/Adjective
1. Lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks; lacking physical strength and energy.
2. Lacking political or social power or influence: "a government too weak to impose order".

there are many incredibly successful women.
perhaps you feel "less than" and have low esteem. that's what you may want to focus on. you can become whatever you want to aspire to, imho.

Who on earth told you you are of the "weaker" sex? They are gravely mistaken and stereotyping. As Madisgram said, this sounds to be a problem of low self-esteem and low confidence, but your idea that it is because of your sex that you are having these problems is just not based in reality.

I was not long on this Earth when I understood the folly of underestimating the strength of a woman.

[disguise123]

Originally Posted by TheByzantine

I was not long on this Earth when I understood the folly of underestimating the strength of a woman.

Wise words

[hanners]

I've lived my life on both sides of the gender fence, and let me tell you, women are not by any means, "the weaker sex."

[hahalebou]

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're looking for someone/something to blame for your insecurity. Women and men, as a whole, vary in strengths and weaknesses. No gender is indisputably stronger or weaker than the next. The fact that you are depressed and unemployed has very little to do with the fact that you're a woman, and has a lot to do with situational circumstances. Hold your head up high, and treat yourself as you want to be treated. Realize that you are just as important, and just as strong as any other man out there.

We're the ones who have to shove babies out of our privates, after all.

Not sure why everyone just assumed I was a woman . . . maybe cos I used the term 'weaker sex' which might have been ascribed to women at some point in human history?

[hahalebou]

I was actually thinking about that as I typed my post...sorry for assuming! I do indeed believe that we (or I) assumed you were a woman because we live in a very patriarchal society that does not frequently represent women in a position of power that isn't sexual. If you're a man, which I am now assuming, my answer still stands. I don't believe you're any weaker than a woman, and I still think it's an issue of insecurity. Whatever is causing it, I hope you'll soon be able to eliminate the undeserved feelings of inadequacy.

Male or female, my answer still stands.

[Stoney84]

I can understand what you're going through. I don't feel that women are inferior, but I quite often feel like I am judged, looked down upon, or written off just because I am female. I've often thought I had to prove myself "good enough" to justify my gender, going to such extremes as to cutting most (if not all) femininity out of my life.

I guess in short, my words to you, it is not the gender but the individual that counts. Hope I've helped at least a little.

I'm starting to feel this way again. I guess in part because of my medication which has been cut from 300mg to 225.

I have to blame the news too, which continually compares genders with a smug, mocking tone or provocative language.

[disguise123]

hmmm. So its more like a intrusive thought for you? Something your mind returns to when your not feeling the best?
How exactly does it affect you personally this belief??

[lastyearisblank]

Maybe it would help to reframe this as the fact that you are just being sensitive and interrogating what it is like to be alive and have a gender? i think that's something we all do to some degree. I'm constantly amazed and surprised when people react to me a certain way for being a woman, whether it's bad or good. It is often on the back of my mind "wow how much of this experience would be different for a man?". But I love being a woman, because that's who I am, it's part of my past, my experiences, it allows me to compare and contrast what life is like for my male "brothers". I hope that you can get past feeling bad, as others have said, the unworthiness part sounds like a bit of an intrusive thought.

Originally Posted by lastyearisblank

But I love being a woman, because that's who I am, it's part of my past, my experiences, it allows me to compare and contrast what life is like for my male "brothers". I hope that you can get past feeling bad, as others have said, the unworthiness part sounds like a bit of an intrusive thought.

Interesting that you referred to males as "brothers". I like it, sounds like we're all in this together somehow, rather than at war with each other. The reality could be either one, or a mixture of both I guess.

It's similar to my hypochondriasis, in that it feels like I'm thinking too much about this, which causes the anxiety/depression, and while it's based in reality, I probably am not looking at this issue clearly.

These are my latest thoughts on it anyway. It comes and goes.

[disguise123]

and thats ok. Its good that you express and discuss it.
I find now approaching thirty that there is alot of misunderstanding between the sexes, most of it comes from different goals and different means of communication. But with open discussion these relationships grow and the divide disappears.
this is probably not what your refering to.
I dont think that there is a weaker sex, and that the one upmanship between the two should not exSist we are all children of the world and should all be supporting eachother towards the common goal of being the best we can be.
You must try and turn your thoughts to more positive thoughts.
Maybe you should do some research into philosophy and gender equality.
Just be careful what you read.

A perspective: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archive...-overthinking/

[ladyjrnlist]

I SO saw this coming.

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

Not sure why everyone just assumed I was a woman . . . maybe cos I used the term 'weaker sex' which might have been ascribed to women at some point in human history?

[lynn P.]

Could you list some of the reasons you think your sex is the weaker one and it's helps to be specific which sex you're talking about? Are you talking about physically, mentally, emotionally or intellectually? Personally I don't believe one is weaker than the other - each sex has it's strengths and weaknesses plus it's very variable, which is why it's not correct to brand one over the other or over generalize. Sorry you're feeling inferior.

[SamiElding]

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

Not sure why everyone just assumed I was a woman . . . maybe cos I used the term 'weaker sex' which might have been ascribed to women at some point in human history?

When I saw your starter post, I assumed you were a man, and was prepared to react to that...
Fact is... "weaker sex" has lately become an aggressive lever... used to further gender stereotyping in favor of women and has been used to my experience as a put-down to men.
I've seen women being put on a pedestal lately in a very solid way... and not for personal achievement as a person. It seems akin to the "racist" approach. Women have always been a balanced part of the human species. They have minds which function differently than men, and bodies which DEFINITELY work differently. The assumption that that puts them at a disadvantage is what has gotten them the old term "weaker sex", and that term has crucified men who had nothing to do with its coining or usage. The idea that the genders are different but functionally equal is what has led me to comfortably assess my own mind and body to determine myself "feminine" and if granted, female. To the original poster, statuswise, you may have found yourself facing a biased world where you are correct.... I live there myself, though "there" may be miles apart... it's a world where power is gained by those same feelings of inferiority. Whether you are man or woman, OP, you are empowering those around you to BECOME influentially superior... you and those who live around you. Power in humanity is not tangible or measurable... it's imagined... it is felt... emoted.... In modern society, you are only as powerful as the masses around you permit. Personal success may never gain you what is necessary (like employment) due to there being a very large movement to shift power at the expense of countless individuals... an idealistic movement that is costing humanity its structural stability.

Originally Posted by lynn P.

Could you list some of the reasons you think your sex is the weaker one and it's helps to be specific which sex you're talking about? Are you talking about physically, mentally, emotionally or intellectually? Personally I don't believe one is weaker than the other - each sex has it's strengths and weaknesses plus it's very variable, which is why it's not correct to brand one over the other or over generalize. Sorry you're feeling inferior.

I guess a big one would be the shorter average life expectancy. I try to rationalise this by saying that it's partly due to poorer lifestyle (i.e. men probably more likely to smoke than women, or men more likely to work dangerous jobs (i.e. army, police) or the fact that young men will often die in high speed car crashes, or the fact that young men have higher suicide rates.

The concern I guess is that maybe male life expectancy will always be lower because of something innate in us.

So that's one way in which I worry about inferiority.

It is also readily apparent you may choose not to do or participate in activities like smoking, high speed driving, joining the military or police force, etc. Life does not have to be a competition. Determine what you value in your life. Set goals to make what you value priorities. Find a passion. Live your life.

[KDlady]

Originally Posted by Illegal Toilet

Not sure why everyone just assumed I was a woman . . . maybe cos I used the term 'weaker sex' which might have been ascribed to women at some point in human history?

Does it really matter who is labeled the weaker sex. Sex is assigned as male or female so then 50% of the population fall under this label - I see it as an inaccurate label - and it projects a stereotype. It sounds like you feel you have been treated badly or discriminated against because of that label. I am sorry if that has been true. Labels work best on jars and cans - not people

[BatsAndButterflies]

I have a lot of male friends and I am female and I cannot stand when they make gender jokes. If I stand up for myself they call me a feminist, but if I do not stand up for myself, then I am becoming the very things they say about my gender... confusions and frustrations...

[notz]

well, the obvious question is...what gender do you consider yourself?