I largely disagree - Edit 1
Before modification by newyorkersedai at 08/07/2011 12:01:12 AM
Honestly, it just seems as if they apply to a certain type of person and doesn't apply to any of my friends. Even worse is the idea that you can generalize how either half of the population behaves based upon their sex.
I agree that I don't like generalizations, and that there are many people to whom stereotypes apply across the board. That said, my older brother, who's no fan of bigotry or racism (we've both received a good bit of it), does point out that some stereotypes exist for a reason.
So: the Swiss really do tend to be punctual; Germans don't like being reminded of WWII; and I've known dozens of Greeks whose fathers (or another male relative) does run a diner/restaurant. As a son of foreigners, I have observed something I call "immigrant parent syndrome," where parents from Korea, China, South/Latin America, and many other places all want their children to (a) become doctors or lawyers, and (b) marry someone from the same background.
Look at it the other way: in an effort to be "appropriate," I politely asked an Indian-descended friend whether he likes spicy food. He looked at me and called me an idiot.
It seems to me that R.J. came from a somewhat conservative background, and perhaps the fact that I was raised in a cosmopolitan city (New York) whereas he was raised in the south, a lot of his commentary on the battle of the sexes seem quaint and outdated.
I don't know whether they were socially or politically conservative, but RJ was raised by like 6 women. This gave him what I think must be an unusual upbringing for a southern gentleman. I was raised in NYC too, but I find that some of his comments are terribly accurate.
Then again, RJ dated two women at once who were completely fine with that arrangement; I haven't necessarily tried this, but I haven't exactly found two women that I think would agree to that. Those were some progressive ladies...