Inverse stereotypes of masculine and feminine traits

want to create a setting that is similiar to our world, but with different notions of "masculine" and "feminine" traits. I've read works of fiction that involve matriarchies, in which all women are very aggressive and go to war, while men become passive and stay at home to care for children. This seems unrealistic, as it seems to simply change gender roles and turn women into men, and vice versa. I want to create something that feels more authentic.*

What I want to do is changing what society values instead of simply change gender roles. Society would place more worth on feminine rather than masculine stereotypes, and view what it means to be men and women differently. For instance: traditional western notions of masculinity revolves around strength, aggression, boldness, etc. In this world, this would be interpreted as arrogance, impatience, and emotional. They are very loyal to their friends, and quick to form attachments. They are also valued for their strength and toughness. However, they are hot headed and rash. Quick to anger, quick to laugh is the best way to describe it: scrapping with each other over some imagined slight to their honor to laughing at the incident over a few beers. This argument leads many to believe that males should not lead a country.

In contrast, femininity is associated with being more passive, emotionally complicated, mothering, etc. In this world, women would be characterized as more rational and wise in their decision making. They form bonds less quickly, and are more clinical in their decision making, taking the long view of things, and ultimately knows what is best. While men are more simple minded, women are emotionally complex (ie: more in control) and slow to anger, but when roused, can be vicious and cruel. Women can hold grudges for long periods of time, and it is difficult to forget past slights.

These are just stereotypes and ideals that society supports and are thought of as the ideal men and women. Obviously, people will react differently to their culture and some will go along with it while others fight against it. Is this a convincing inverse of masculine and feminine ideals? What other stereotypes can I play around with and reverse?

to me this is not interesting enough Why do you want to make a story this way where one gender is valued over another? Why not make it so certain traits are valued..period. Wise, clinical, etc. is what people in this society are attracted to in their leadership. This can be in the form of a man or a woman. To me, your story just sounds like a society of stereotypes with some being the polar opposite (rejecting the culture). That is not how life works. That's like only having Democrat and Republican. You claim to only want to change what society values? Then why does there need to be stereotypes?

The thing about what you said is that we already live in that world.

One of the main goals of Feminism was to make female traits more positive. Of course, there was the another goal of denouncing these traits (For example, should princesses be retired or their meaning changed?), but the effect is obvious. Simpsons, Gumball, most family dramas have the wife as the one in control while the husband is a bumbling idiot. We ARE living a world were female traits are considered better.

This could also be because we don't need (traditionally) male traits any more. Bravery isn't really necessary when most life threatening risks are taken by a select few (police) or self imposed (mountain-climbing, travailing too the south pole). There are communities were this is not the case, but western society is very much on the woman's side right now.

So basically, just turn our Gynocentric society up too eleven, and you'll get what you want.

... but you want a society that's reverse to what we have now don't you. Well... You could have a society that completely hates men, seeing ALL their traits as negative. It's risky in our current climate, and I honestly wouldn't recommend it unless your piece is a socio-political commentary about the disadvantages that men face (which do exist. There are 4 times as many men then there are women that are homeless, and the legal definition of Rape in the UK makes men the only possible perpetrators, even though their victims can be male of female). I'd say leave it to the documentaries for that one.

What I'd do is make the society that's relevant to your plot: Keep It Simple Stupid.

Does your protagonist NEED to live in an unfamiliar world? No? Then don't make it unfamiliar. If it does, then make changes that are only relevant to the characters and what they face. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)!

Some of the many things wrong with that - 1. KISS applied to art makes for shallow stories and shallow ideas. Life isn't simple. 2. If anything, "modernity" has made women become more like the masculine stereotype the OP described. The fact that stereotypically-feminine behaviors make for better societies is completely disregarded, at least in the West.

In my stories, the cultures have no gender construct - there's no gendered language, no gendered fashion, no separate gender roles, Everyone Is Bi because they don't have a concept of only dating men or women... they don't have a concept of only *anything* men or women. But that... doesn't seem like what you're asking. To me, though, it is the solution to gender.

I guess, basically, though... "why?" is a good question. Is there a point you're trying to make, or do you just want to stir things up? If you want to stir things up, just go for completely genderless. If you have a point, I guess, let that guide you. That's on you.

edited 11th Mar '18 11:15:20 AM by lavendermintrose