Ever since Adam and Eve, there has always been what we like to call, “The Battle of the Sexes.” People everywhere love to stereotype, love to talk smack, and love to be right. After researching relationships, both romantic and platonic, it has occurred to me that there will always be a barrier when it comes to understanding the opposite sex. Whether it be how we talk to our loved ones or how we act towards co-workers, there will always be misconceptions due to gender. Here are four scenarios in which I think it is hard to accept your role as a male or a female.
1. The Workplace: There are times when an open minded, friendly person just wants to have friendly conversations. Why not be as cordial as you can be right, it’s the workplace! As a female, I find it hard to be myself around my male co-workers. Why? Well, just because I say that your suit looks nice or that you’re good at your job does not mean I am flirting. It’s called friendly conversation. I find it very hard to remain the friendly person I am without my words being mistaken for flirting. This just results in another barrier being put up. I’m sure it works in reverse as well. For example, some guy had asked me for my phone number but never succeeded. Now, with every cheesy line that comes out of his mouth, or even normal sentences for that matter, I automatically assume it to be a sexual advance. Once it’s there, the spell can’t be broken!
2. The Kitchen: Betty Crocker is the lady to blame when the question arises, who’s the better cook? It is a well known stereotype that if the man of the house is the cook of the house, that also makes him the “stay at home mom.” Actually, my fiancée is a wonderful cook; he works all day and cooks dinner every night. He prefers it and so do I. I would never think of him less manly because he does the cooking. I’m sure both women and men alike don’t care who’s doing the cooking, as long as it’s some good grub! There’s no reason to put a woman’s apron on a manly chef!
3. The Bar: Who said girls can’t drink beer? And who says real men don’t drink cocktails? Whatever you drink, you get drunk. If I hear another person say that he ordered “a girly drink” I’ll smack em right off that bar stool. I do not see what’s wrong with a little sugar and a cherry on top. As for me, alcohol is like poison and beer is all I care to drink. I refuse to be called a Tom Boy because I prefer it.
4. Shopping: Have you ever seen a man at Victoria’s Secret? I’m sure it’s been rare because all the women will stare. That saying that goes “If you see a man shopping for lingerie that means he’s cheating on his wife” is old news. What’s so wrong with my fiancée picking out my under garments? After all, it is for his eyes... shouldn’t he like it? In fact, it would be nice to be given something that he likes too. I wish it wasn’t so “socially unacceptable” to see a guy shopping for his girl. I think it’s a nice gesture and not at all “femmy.”
Overall, being a female or being a male is a tough job. Whether you’re labeled a manly woman or a girly man it’s not easy to be living in your own shell sometimes. The best advice you can take is to just be yourself, and always fight for what you know is true. The Beatles said it best, “I am he, as you are he, as you are me and we are all together.”
