"Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail, whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge; it will vanish awayAnd now abide faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

As a disciple called by God in the New Testament to distribute the Gospel, Paul preached on the importance and essentiality of love. The scripture quoted above is the core of the letter to the Corinthians. However, I believe that in many ways, our society while at the same time upholds love, casts it aside. Our society views love as slop, cowardice, and wrong. It does it mainly through gender roles. The following explains how society adopts these gender roles, their role throughout history, and the damage I believe that they do to both men and women.

Men are in many societies and individual families brought up to be "masculine." Playing sports, showing dominance, being "macho" and even bragging about sexual conquests of women, however true or imagined, are the roles that men are expected to play. To not play sports, act in a macho fashion, or to show emotion other than anger, frustration, or a poker face is considered being "feminine" or being a "coward." Men that do not live up to the stereotypes are stigmatized in many ways including being verbally and at times physically abused.

Women, on the other hand, are expected to be completely effeminate. They are expected to wear makeup, take meager jobs (secretary, clerk, processing, etc.), and "be a lady." Any attempts to go beyond such stereotypes is criticized as being "unladylike." Women may not obtain certain jobs and be criticized as being radical "feminists." Again, like men, women face discrimination if attempts to go beyond what society has set for them are made.

Efforts to lessen the stereotypes have been made. But I believe that we as people can do far better. We need to stop locking people in boxes and let people be themselves. Each of us has been created with our own unique gifts and talents. We should all be able to use them without having to conform to outdated and meaningless stereotypes.

As Paul said, to shirk love and dismiss it as meaningless is the downfall of humanity. If we are incapable of showing love and/or refuse to show it, then what are we? We become a cruel and evil people. Love is the conquerer of conflicts, the healer of hurts, the uniter of two people who are in love, and is the eliminator of evil. If we do not allow ourselves to love, then we are truly nothing.

Take me for instance. I myself have never really been interested in sports. At lunch time in junior high and high school I would usually read a book or watch the others. Sports just does not interest me. Unfortunately, I was made fun of and picked on for this and being the kind person I am. When I have tried to conform to the "masculine" stereotype that society wants me to, I find I cannot. Because that isnt me.

I am a person that is sensitive, kind, shows emotion, is more into the arts than in sports or wrestling, and I am glad I am that person. That is the person that God has made me to be. To try and be something I am not is worse than death to me. Sadly, there are people and certain organizations who would try to take that away from me. But I will not let them because I am an individual. I am who I am and I wont change who I am for other peoples benefits. You should not either. You should just be you. There is only one of you. And you are special.