Things generally considered
pretty, like
flowers and
lace, are also considered
feminine these days. This is completely
sexist. And before you think I'm going off on another
feminist rant, let me tell you a)
I enjoy being a girl b) this is indeed an
anti-sexism rant, and c) it's sexist against
MEN.
Why do we feel like we need to
repress men so much? Why aren't they allowed to express themselves? For the last fifty years men have been severely restricted on what they can wear and like. Prior to that, it was perfectly normal for a masculine man to enjoy pretty things. You should see my strapping
great-grandfather's
shaving mug (for his manly
handlebar mustache). It's
cobalt blue and covered with
flowers and
swirls and
gold paint. It's
beautiful. Men used to be able to wear
velvet and
lace without being automatically considered
gay and/or
effeminate. And boys had pretty
porcelain dolls.
I don't think the capacity to appreciate pretty things has disappeared from
men and boys, it's just been
stifled for
decades. Some men will still like pretty things more than others, just as women do, but they should at least be allowed to enjoy them openly.
My point is that this is
unnatural and
recent. Ignore it, guys. If you like pretty stuff then
indulge that. The women around you will probably find this
appealing, if you're concerned about that. It delights me that I can give my boyfriend a floral
birthday cake, and sometimes send
pretty things to
Starrynight. Women, don't assume guys hate all things
pretty. Giving a guy flowers is still considered
weird, if not unheard-of. I don't know a single guy who, on receiving flowers, didn't truly enjoy it.
This is one of the few areas in which sexism favors
women. In the realm of
personal taste it's far more
acceptable for a woman or girl to like masculine things than the reverse (
professions and such are another matter).
PS: The USA is among the more
uptight about this issue, other countries being a bit more relaxed (oddly enough,
especially cultures with a big emphasis on
machismo). But the general idea is true to varying degrees in most "
industrialized" nations.