By now most people who read this blog will probably have noticed that I don't much hold with stereotypes - e.g., that all young people have a wild, rebellious and irresponsible period (or, indeed, that such a period is necessary in order to have a "satisfactory" life). I particularly don't hold with the stereotype of girls being "sugar and spice, and all things nice", and boys being something else. "Niceness" in all its many manifestations can occur in any [1] gender - as can nastiness in all its many and varies manifestations.
Now, the thing about stereotypes is that the perceptions and meaning or significance attributed to archetypes can be influenced by said stereotypes. Hence, for instance, the archetype of "the hero", or "the warrior" (who can be a spiritual or psychic warrior [2] ), may be presumed to be male, whereas in actual fact the hero or warrior can be female, bigendered, etc.
Another speculation that I've had is about the stereotype that men will watch physically violent films (such as war films), and that women will watch emotionally violent films (which is how I view many so-called "dramas" - and I know from personal experience how much long lasting, deep damage can be done as a result of living through real-life drama). There are women, perhaps those who are in tune with the "hero" (which should be heroine, in this case [4]) archetype, and watch films that other women may dislike as being "too violent". I know men who love watching dramas - and other films considered "chick flicks", such as light romantic comedies. No, those men are NOT all gay (another stereotype). My speculation is: perhaps what we feel most comfortable watching, is what we feel we would be most able to control in real life.
Hence, women who do not know how to use agility and speed in a physical confrontation to overcome strength and size may feel more comfortable watching dramas - particularly if they are familiar with counselling or personal growth work. Men who have a similar familiarity, and good verbal skills, may feel similarly comfortable with such films. Perhaps - all these are given as general trends, or an overview, if you will: every single example will have exceptions! - women who watch predominantly light-hearted romantic comedies lack both sets of skills ... or simply desire something that they consider will give pleasure.
Sometimes people desire to escape from what they encounter in everyday life (such as an abusive relationship leading to liking light-hearted romantic comedies, or a soldier liking dramas as an escape from physical warfare.
On the other hand, people may continue watching films as part of working through something - hence, for instance, someone who has experienced a great deal of drama may continue to watch the same as a way of working through it, or someone who has had a major war experience (perhaps in a previous life) may similarly work through it in the next life by watching war films. Sometimes such films may be watched as a way of drawing in negative units associated with that for clearing. [5]
The point is, there are many motivations for watching something, and one should NEVER judge another for what they watch on the basis of a stereotype.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr 
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear") 
Notes:
- There are more than just two genders, which is why I have not used the word "either".
- This is, in fact, one of the founding principles for the rangers of the Inner Place.
- Pronounced "sky-aa", this is the name of a female warrior who trained other Celtic warriors including the legendary Cú Chulainn - see here for more.
- I do not hold with using gender neutral pronouns such as actor for male and female instead of using actor and actress. My experience in the workplace is that such may become a code for bigots - hence, for instance, chairman is used for men (with the excuse that the origin of the word was not associated with a particular gender, which is true, but false as it ignores the changes that happened to language in the last century as women seek to be treated equally), and chairperson is used for women - when it should be chairwoman. In other words, it gives the bigots a chance to be lazy and get out of realistic thinking and consideration of changes that need to be made to a workplace on the basis of convenience.
- My experience of this world is that it is a violent place - a psychically violent place, with most of that psychic violence associated with words and drama.
Tags: about me, archetype, Kerr Cuhulain, motivation, Scathach, sexism, stereotypes, violence, society,
First published:Sunnudagr, 22nd May, 2011
Last edited: Sunday, 22nd May, 2011
