The biblical sin of sloth is typically classified as an avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
I, unfortunately, almost immediately associated this sin with gender roles, which place men’s and women’s duties on far sides of the maintenance spectrum.
There are several cultural and personal factors involved in setting gender-specific expectations, and that’s why I won’t be diving into the woes of gender stereotypes. We’ve all been exposed, in different ways, to gender roles through our lives. Because some of the strongest socializing agents like teachers, parents and peers are humans with unique experiences, all of us may have been raised with different expectations of our peers and ourselves.
While children stores like Justice and Toys 'R' Us often sell merchandise that encourages some negative gender roles (like girls are only good at looking pretty or making pretty things, and boys are only good at dominating and selling their sisters), the more recent generations of Americans have realized and enforced the idea that men and women are equals despite gender identities.
Nowadays, most people appreciate a man who can cry. They appreciate a woman who can hold her own. They appreciate a couple that shares the symbolic pants.
As a friend of mine recently stated, I believe we have patience to thank for the recent surge in male and female empowerment.
The average age of first marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men, which is the highest it’s been in over a century. Making the choice to live independently prior to getting married most likely plays a great factor in breaking down gender roles. A woman who lives alone has to mow her own lawn, and a man who lives alone has to clean his own dishes.
I think, despite some catastrophically apathetic faults, our generation is a considerate and progressive one, so keep on keeping on!
