Gender

This week we talked about gender. We brought up a few controversial topics like equality for women and same gender attraction. What I kept thinking about all week is The Family Proclamation to the World. I've thought a lot this week about my understanding of the divinity of gender and my own gender-role orientation. One of my personality traits is that if someone tells me I can or can't do something (especially because I'm a girl) I will do everything I can to prove them wrong. So when it comes to equality for women, I am all about it. I can do anything a man can, they have no superiority over me simply because I am a woman and they are a man. However, I also know that gender is a divinely appointed gift and each gender has been given certain gifts that are unique to their gender - especially women. Over the last few years, my focus has shifted. Yes, I can do anything a man can. I can have a successful career in businesses, politics, accounting, public relations or anything else if I wanted to. But just because I can doesnt mean that I should. Womanhood is a gift and blessing from my Heavenly Father and with that gift comes many special blessings and talents that I possess. I have the opportunity to be a wife and a mother and in holding those roles I have the opportunity to nurture and care for the lives and well-being of others. My divine gender role is to be a mother and a wife. That doesn't make me any less important or skilled than men. I can still do anything if I set my mind to it, but that's not what Heavenly Father wants for me and I should be happy with the blessing it is to be different from men - not subordinate or inferior, just different.