Moving beyond gender
Examining the meaning of masculinity and femininity for young people.
At the moment when society sees the greatest progress on gender equality, the very topic has become a political minefield. Some insist the work of equality has only just begun, while others worry that so many old certainties have been called into question that young people are adrift in a sea of confusions. If gender equality once meant equality between men and women, it now brings with it a whole series of fashionable theories that go beyond the two genders. When such confusion dominates, is it any surprise that young people are increasingly switching off from the real world of dating and relationships?
At Salon Liberté’s fifth meeting, we looked into the meaning of masculinity and femininity for young people today.
Our panelists and the audience exchanged their views on some of the main questions that dominate the public discourse:
How to define gender equality?
Why is the Gen Z facing a problem of loneliness?
Can Tinder replace the traditional forms of dating?
As the public discourse is full of different interpretations and, at times, politically motivated definitions, one topic the audience was curious to address was what gender equality really is. Marija Lisanin advocated for a social constructivist viewpoint. She noted that gender is not an inherent biological trait but rather a complex set of socially mediated behaviours, roles, and identities. On the other hand, Rob Lemeire dismissed it as a false and meaningless concept, emphasising that we should accept the differences as necessary and desirable.
Not fully satisfied with either explanation, the audience pushed the speakers to explain how to understand the real differences between men and women, without putting into question the real status of equality.
The audience were also keen to see addressed the question of loneliness among the Gen Z. As one person put it, if we simply are all the same, why would we even need each other? Such worries seem born out by the data: 75% of young people are single and unwilling to engage in a relationship.
At the same time, the expectations placed on the modern “superwoman” means it is increasingly difficult to balance between work and life. Rob suggested that dating apps are a disaster because they only promote a consumerist approach to female-male relationships while undermining the norms and values that sustained interaction across the centuries. But Marija suggested that certain cultural norms and expectations had been stifling young people - pressure to conform to certain standards. Or has the destruction of “gender norms” left people even more confused?
During the panel, we also touched upon other major dilemmas such as:
Has the whole concept of gender increasingly been used as a radical political agenda?
How did the dominant constructivist theory about society and gender develop, and is it time to abandon it?
What role are the social media influencers playing in setting the narratives for understanding this topic?
Once again, we proved that a genuine, respectful and interesting debate is possible even in a cancel-culture dominated city!
We thank our panelists for their valuable insights, the Flemish Club for Arts and Sciences for their support of the event, and YOU, the audience who shared your thoughts and helped speech flourish in Brussels.
See you on our next Salon!