just a little fun
April 11, 2007Last night’s episode of “House” went into the story line of co-workers Dr. Cameron (female) and Dr. Chase (male) pursuing a purely sexual relationship. Their sexual relationship began one night while both were high on drugs but now continues as a very casual relationship. They have sex on a patient’s bed and continue to flirt throughout the day at work.
But at the very end of the episode, Chase declares that he wants more than what they currently have. It is a stereotypical role reversal because instead of the woman wanting more than just sex, it is the man who wants emotions involved in the relationship.
Initally, I thought that it was a great example of the women that Stepp is writing about in her book. The woman leads a life that is too driven and full that she doesn’t want a relationship but rather pleasure to agument her life.
But then on further thought and discussion with my roommate, I realized that it may be more than just her choice to have casual sex that keeps her from wanting the relationship with Chase. It may be the fear of emotions that keeps her from the intimacy. It may be that she is trying to save herself from the pain that may be involved if she invests herself in the relationship and it ends badly.
(as just a fun little fact, the actor and actress who play Dr. Chase and Dr. Cameron are engaged in real life!)
I was just wondering how come you came to the conclusion that “It may be the fear of emotions that keeps her from the intimacy. It may be that she is trying to save herself from the pain that may be involved if she invests herself in the relationship and it ends badly.”
From watching the show I don’t really get the sense that Cameron is emotionally/romantically attached to Chase – yet we question her reluctance to take the relationship further.
Why is that? Even you say that the situation is a “stereotypical role reversal,” so by doubting it, aren’t we only enforcing these biased and unreasonable stereotypes?
It seems that the doubt comes from little more than an inability to see beyond the stereotype that women are overly-sensitive, emotional, or too invested.
I apologize if it seems as if I’m attacking you. I just wonder why it’s so difficult to accept that maybe a woman just wants to “hook-up.” We rarely ever question a male’s ability to follow his sex-drive without involving emotion, yet we can never ever accept this in a female. I’ve had a lot of discussion with my male friends on the subject, and they seem to think the differences lie in the possession of testosterone. They blame everything on it, and claim that because women don’t have it, we can’t possibly have sex just to have sex, because we don’t have this so-called “drive.”
I say, bullshit. There’s probably some truth to that, but I don’t think hormones control everything. I have a lot of girl friends who will hook-up with a guy, never wanting to see him again, only to have him call and pester her asking for a date or another chance to meet.
So is it really the hormones and differences in gender, or is it just that as women gain independence and power and no longer have to maintain traditional ideals of femininity we start to see that some women really just want to hook-up?