camelot23ca
Heir Presumptive
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2003
- Messages
- 2,160
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Joachim is very conservative man if I am to analyze him.
Also in regards to gender roles. Not that he doesn't believe in gender equality, but he certainly IMO believe that a man must stand up and protect his family, should shield his wife, should always be polite to women - be a "southern gentleman" actually - be a man! While his wife deals with the more softer values within the family.
He is (no doubt influenced by his father) a traditionally French family man. The benign head of his family.
This is where he is most comfortable.
That may not have been particularly compatible with Alexandra, who was older then Joachim, had had her own career where she was used to using her elbows in competition with men, and being independent.
Our Marie on the other hand is IMO also pretty conservative in many ways. Being French she can understand the concept of a patriarch of the family. She quite likes the idea of having a strong arm to lean on. - While getting her way, when she wants to...
Yeah, yeah, I know. Some of you reading this will per default immediately stand up on one leg, make the sign of the cross seven times while massing: "There is no such thing as different gender-roles in this here modern world".
Well, it works for some. Apparently it works for Joachim and Marie.
While the gender division is much less represented in Mary and Frederik's marriage. And that apparently suits them well.
It's always been interesting to me how dissimilar Frederik and Joachim seem in this respect considering they're from the same family, the same gender, and are very close in age.
I wonder if Frederik is less hung up on issues of status and outward signs of being the leader because he's always known he's going to be top of the heap one day and has nothing to prove in that regard. Just my bit of armchair psychology about total strangers!