How to be “emotional”?
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Verena Mayer
Abstract
Traditional prejudice says that men are rational while women are “emotional.” According to empirical studies this view seems to be held globally even today, while at the same time other results show that men are judged to be more aggressive and “angry” than women. These paradoxical results can be explained by a proper interpretation of what “emotional” means: the ancient Greeks did not believe that women had more emotions than man had, but rather believed that women were not in control of their emotions, and thus were generally “weak.” This background belief can be traced throughout history until today. It imposes a certain paradox on female gender identity: to be or to become a woman seems to demand not being in full control of oneself, which again contradicts the possibility of voluntarily becoming a unified person. There is no rational way to be “emotional.”
Abstract
Traditional prejudice says that men are rational while women are “emotional.” According to empirical studies this view seems to be held globally even today, while at the same time other results show that men are judged to be more aggressive and “angry” than women. These paradoxical results can be explained by a proper interpretation of what “emotional” means: the ancient Greeks did not believe that women had more emotions than man had, but rather believed that women were not in control of their emotions, and thus were generally “weak.” This background belief can be traced throughout history until today. It imposes a certain paradox on female gender identity: to be or to become a woman seems to demand not being in full control of oneself, which again contradicts the possibility of voluntarily becoming a unified person. There is no rational way to be “emotional.”
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Authenticity, emotions, and the self
- Self-love and the structure of personal values 11
- The self of shame 33
- Authenticity and self-governance 51
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Part II. Ramifications of emotional authenticity
- Picturing the authenticity of emotions 71
- Status, gender, and the politics of emotional authenticity 91
- How to be “emotional”? 113
- Authenticity and occupational emotions 133
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Part III. Emotional authenticity in ethics and moral psychology
- Is emotivism more authentic than cognitivism? 155
- Emotional authenticity as a central basis of moral psychology 179
- Authentic emotions as ethical guides? 195
- Emotional optimality and moral force 215
- Index 235
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Authenticity, emotions, and the self
- Self-love and the structure of personal values 11
- The self of shame 33
- Authenticity and self-governance 51
-
Part II. Ramifications of emotional authenticity
- Picturing the authenticity of emotions 71
- Status, gender, and the politics of emotional authenticity 91
- How to be “emotional”? 113
- Authenticity and occupational emotions 133
-
Part III. Emotional authenticity in ethics and moral psychology
- Is emotivism more authentic than cognitivism? 155
- Emotional authenticity as a central basis of moral psychology 179
- Authentic emotions as ethical guides? 195
- Emotional optimality and moral force 215
- Index 235
