My background is Middle Eastern/Arab and it is HEAVY in traditional role ideologies
Me and my parents were in a discussion and it really showed me where we are as a society.
It was about the male role in relationships and society, my parents were adamant that the male role was to protect and provide, my rebuttal was why not both partners provide to maintain the relationship and protect it. They found it outlandish.
For context, it was about who should stand in-front of who in the line of gunfire, my parents were certain that the male should die for his partner, HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT TO YOUR SON? AM I JUST A UTILITY?
I told them this is the female equivalent of telling women to "stay in the kitchen", that we are more than our utilities and function. Why is it so accepted that yes, men, you must die for your partner, and not the other way around, not mutual, asymmetrical.
My point was why not both fight when in danger, both protect each other? both duck away from gun fire, and both seek safety.
I am not trying to dismiss biological factors, of course, we men have baselines of higher bone density, muscle mass, clavicle width, limb length, I WOULD BE AN IDIOT TO DENY THAT, but:
We shouldn't be forced to be your bodyguard, or be cared only because of what we provide or protect, and outside of those two categories we are nothing. Women can absolutely help and can be trained through the gym and etc.
These stereotypes hold back nuance and reduce us, I am so sick of dehumanization.
You shouldn't have to fight alone. and we men are sick of it, metaphorically, and physically.