SEX NEVER CHANGES...OR DOES IT?

The biggest problem with springtime storms is finding yourself caught in the middle of one. In life, change is like that too. A sudden storm you're caught in the middle of without an umbrella. But even though our economic, political and religious institutions all seem to be shifting under us, the biggest change may have to do with sex....!

No, not the act. The role.

In a rapidly shifting 21st century, is there any longer clearly defined roles for the two sexes? Speaking as a man, I'm probably disqualifying myself with 50% of the population. Or maybe not. After all, the roles of the sexes have been largely indisputable for millions of years. Historically speaking, men have always played the physical roles, women the feminine roles.

So far so good. But this is where it gets sticky, for what is physical has remained pretty constant while what is feminine has not. Look at the evidence.

Nothing so stirs the physicality of the American male than seeing (or being) tall in the saddle on a stallion charging up a hill. John Wayne and Clint Eastwood have been doing it for generations. The thunder of the hooves. the smell of the leather, the jangle of the boots. It looks, feels, smells manhood. And if there isn't a horse handy, the speed and roar of a convertible or a racing car will do very nicely, thank you.

We could argue details, but in essence this is the consistent imagery of American male physicality. However, when it comes to American feminism, well that's become complicated.

At one time the imagery was fairly clear (forced but still fairly clear). Their chosen role involved fine homes....fine motherhood.. ...fine children...finery of all kinds. Before you snicker, this role not only prevailed for generations, it was often preferred. As the saying had it, the man was king of his world, but the wife was queen of everything else.

Then along came Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman, Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinem, and Oprah. Taking their cue from as far back as Abigail Adams, these feminists took sharp issue with these pre-ordained roles. Today -- even though there may be a silent minority out there who still prefer to be queen -- the awakened majority have re-defined feminism. It includes careers in business, medicine, sports and government. You name it, and they can nail it!

This old "king" applauds this over-due "revolt." Only looking from the outside in, he has to wonder how much harder it is for a young woman to choose her role today. There are so many! As for the young man, well nothing's much changed. The physical roles waiting for him still include the same old, same old. Changing the tires, fixing the leaks, throwing out the garbage. Oh, and when he really wants to get physical, tearing off his shirt and pounding his chest in the Wrigley Field bleachers.

There's one role today's women have little interest in. If, however, they did, you can be sure the guys on the television cameras would be working their zoom lens....