Posted by Piques at spider-th084.proxy.aol.com on February 12, 2000 at 20:34:22:
A generation ago or so, women took on typically male attributes and defended their right to do so as the feminist movement. They fought for the right to make money, have power, and be heard on the same level as their male counter parts, while still retaining their femininity. However, being a daughter of the "revolution" I am now in a difficult position. I have to rise above my male counter parts in order to prove myself equal and do it while wearing a skirt, high heels and crossing my legs just right so that the calf muscle doesn't go all flat and out of shape. (By the way, I am nearly 26 and I still haven't figured out how to do it. The best I can do is to just hover my right leg over the left, but then my thigh just gets tired.) And to top it all off, I can't admit that I like wearing high heels and skirts. If I admitted it, it would be saying that I am shallow enough to like the look of my legs (which I do) and that I need to rely on them to get along in life (which I don't).
Now men are having a little revolution of their own. There has come in that past few years the development of the sensitive man. Although he existed back in the 70's, this seems to be a highly advanced version. He cries at sad movies, is frightened by things that go bump in the night, and really just wants a woman who is independent and can support herself so that all he has to do is relax and admire her human qualities. No more of "this taking care of my wife/girlfriend/family" stuff. He looks into his wifes/girlfriends eyes and admits, without fear of abandonment or rejection, his undying love and willingness for commitment - without being prompted. He doesn't brag to his friends about his conquests, instead preferring to keep the moment special. This was not a quality of any guy I knew in college. Then again, there were quite a few women who didn't have it either.
I know the point is to a bit of an extreme and the letter is long, but I hope I got the idea across. My question is this -
Is the sensitive man a liberating role-model for boys today to explore their tender, emotional side or is it a confusing load of crap leaving boys ultimately unsure of what being male is about?
You see, I think men are men and women are women. If you just leave them alone they will sort themselves out. When was the last time you saw a nature program about a baboon who fought against its sexual stereotypes? A lioness who tried to grow a mane? A bull elephant who just wanted a chance to lead the herd? You don't see it. Why? Because they sorted it out. Or at least no one has caught it on tape.
Totally unrelated but funny (at least I though so) -
When you fly Virgin Air they give you a pair of socks to wear on the plane. They are really fluffy and comfortable so I end up hanging on to them to use around the house. Yesterday my Mom hurt her foot and I was replacing the bandage on it tonight. When I was putting her sock back on I noticed that it was one of the pairs of socks I have saved from the plane. So I said "Oh, you have my Virgin socks". My Mom looked at me rather surprised. I continued and said "I get those from the when I fly on Virgin." And she started to laugh and said "That's not what I thought you meant!" to which I responded "That's right, Mom, sex is so weird these days, you have to buy all new socks".
We had a good laugh over it ...