I was recently perusing a copy of some woman’s magazine (don’t ask why) and came across an ad. This ad shows two TVs. One television shows a man holding a woman and the other is a man who is holding another man in a headlock. The caption reads “Men and Women like different things.” At the bottom of the ad is a picture of Seagram’s Wine Cooler with the caption of “What Women Want”.
What is my point in sharing this ad with you? This ad is offensive and sexist. This ad makes an assumption that women enjoy seeing sappy romance while men enjoy seeing mindless wrestling. However, most offensive of all is that I love wine coolers. In fact, I am usually the guy who brings wine coolers to a party because I don’t drink beer, unless you consider Coors Light a beer.
Unfortunately, we still live in a society that says that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. Well, that may be fine and dandy but I own lots of pink shirts and boxers. Why can’t I go to a bar and order a strawberry daquiri or an amaretto sour as my buddies grab a Guinness, a Jagermeister, or Sam Adams? I actually prefer that my drinks are the same colors as Skittles, have gone through a blender, and are topped with cherries and a paper umbrella. Behind my computer at work is a bottle of Midori.
Furthermore, I know all the lyrics to all the songs of West Side Story and Sound of Music. I HAVE CRIED IN MOVIE THEATERS!!! I actually enjoy watching chick shows like Jack and Jill although I don’t watch much TV. I know ‘N Sync and Backstreet Boys lyrics. In fact, if it were socially acceptable, I would have their music blasting on my radio. I enjoy many things that are not traditionally macho.
My guess is that all guys can probably pinpoint things that they do that are considered girlish. Perhaps, they shave their legs or tweeze their eyebrows. Or perhaps, they used a curling iron on their hair when they were in high school (not that anyone would ever use a curling iron). My guess is that we all cannot conform to the macho image of a guy in a cut-off tank-top who goes out and shares his brewskis with his construction buddies. For every one of these Antonio Banderas wannabes, there are plenty of Young Il Kims out there who drink their Midori sours while sitting in front of their computers all day typing with their dainty hands that never witnessed a day of physical labor.
If this makes me effeminate, so be it. That is the path that I have taken. So next time you see me prancing around and singing to Ricky Martin’s “Cup of Life”, just keep this in mind: I am not gay, just effeminate. And please start a fight with me; I can’t ruin my pretty dainty hands.
