Will Men and Women Be Warring Forever?

I am writing this while watching Hanna Rosin declare the end of the male gender. Women are getting more degrees, more PHDs, more jobs…

What I’m about to write it going to be very unpopular, but it is an observation, not a fact. Just an opinion, not an official ruling.

From Jezebel

I genuinely believe that my female friends are much, MUCH more employable than my male friends. Obviously there are exceptions, some of the most phenomenally smart and qualified people I know are male, but in general, the women are much more hireable.

Don’t ask me why, but the women I know have undertaken more, and more impressive, work experience, have travelled, have leadership skills from taking part in groups and activities since they were young. Most of the guys I know have one hobby only: sports. Football, Formula 1, or whatever, they spend their extra time playing it, watching it, and in the pub they talk about it.

They are less developed. At 21 and 22, their humour is still largely racist and sexist, they are closed-minded about interests that would make them seem less masculine, and their level of sensitivity is shocking low.

Hanna Rosin’s outlook seems extremely bleak to me. It assumes that there must ALWAYS be one dominant gender, which was never the goal of the feminist movement. EQUAL rights is what women fought for, and what we still fight for to this day; righting the millennia old bias towards men. But that is not to say that we want to take everything they had for ourselves.

I am merely picking out one point she has made about the education, emotional intelligence and employability of men leaving higher education, which is exactly the point that I am at today.

In a few months time (with a lot of hard work and a few exams) I will graduate from one of the best universities in the UK. It is my observation that while most of my male friends could talk extensively about the upcoming transfer window, or the season-wide performance of the Red Bull team, or the porn that they have recently watched online, their skills as employees are far below those of the women around them.

So, there it is. I have no doubt that as they age and mature, their interests will broaden and their outlook will adjust to be more tolerant, but in the meantime, the women are stronger candidates.

Hotties and Hilarity

Under-The-Shirt Politics...

I have always looked on Victoria’s Secret ads with a totally puzzled and fairly disgusted eye. Their catalogues are famous the world over as more likely to be found covered with not-mysterious stains under a teenage boy’s bed than with pages hopefully turned down on the average woman’s kitchen table. ‘Victoria Secret model’ is synonymous with ‘Most Beautiful Women in the World’ airbrushed to a whole new level of terrifying perfection. ‘Angel’ is a laughable and insulting term for these bra-and-panties clad gym-and-salad gorging semi-humans. In a sense, however, it didn’t matter. It is an American institution; it is the American way. It was across the pond and avoidable.

But now, like all things, the inevitable American influence has washed up on our shores in the form of La Senza’s Cup-Sized Choir. Seriously, who are they trying to sell to? Boyfriends and husbands? Not only appealing to the lowest-common-denominator of the male gender, but also a slap-in-the-face Christmas gift. ‘Honey, I saw boobs on TV and thought buying the product for you would make you more desirable…’. Well Merry Fucking Christmas to you too! Why don’t I book you in for a penis enlargement?

Why is women’s underwear advertised this way? In our lifetimes, probably 90% of our underwear ownership is about comfort, support and fit. About US! 10% is about looking hot for some luck guy. If we put the power of purchase in the hands of men, what is left? We’ll all be walking around with scraps of fabric up our asses and nipple tassels under our work shirts…

There is a whole other post to be written about the fact that there is only one store in the UK that sells bras made in real sizes. Any woman who has been measured by a professional knows that hardly anyone is actually a 34B. For now, though, I ask you, WHY WHY WHY is our underwear being sold to us via men? Why is the sexy 10% of our underwear needs the only part being pitched to us?

In closing, I should make it abundantly clear that I absolutely love wearing hot underwear, the objects themselves are not anti-feminist, but I don’t see how these ads can be taken any other way…

Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy Ton...

I have oft spoken of my love of mens’ fashion. I marvel at the creativity within the constraints of sartorial elegance. Tommy Ton is the master of capturing these beautifully intricate details. Here are some devilishly striking men from outside the tents at Milan…

Source

Man-tastic Fashion

My father was an extremely well-dressed man. A clothes horse. His aesthetic was pure English gent, but colourful and quirky. That's where it started. I love the innovation of menswear. I also love how well documented mens fashion is in the street style blogosphere (did anyone know that 'blogosphere' is now in the OED?). I'm also luvky to have a beautifully dressed boyfriend who allows me to tag along to his shopping trips (I know, traditionally it's the other way 'round!). Anyway, in honour of my men, here are some fabulous examples of man-tastic fashion!

Layering is practically an art form. I love that he's wearing two shirts - denim and plaid - and those fantastic trousers - mixing sweatpants and tailoring.

I also love, LOVE chunky knits on men. My boyfriend and I tried to find him a 'Christmas jumper' for winter layering - this guy found it first.

The more surprising the layers the better - tshirt, shirt and button-up hoody, completed with a leather jacket that's more top-shelf than Top Gun. Nicely done!

Elbow patches. Enough said. I would stitch elbow patches on ALL of my clothes if I didn't think it would start raising eyebrows...

Colour. Beautiful colour. This guy... Well, he's like a lovely assault on the eye.

The suit. Classic, sharp, beautifully fitted. There's a reason women adopted them and called it 'power dressing'.

Cardigans. Another crucial element of any mans wardrobe. Especially under a blazer, and with sand chinos!

I went to Gant recently and they're layering shirts under rugby shirts, which is not commonly seen, and is also practical for the Spring chill.

All these lovely men in their beautiful clothes -- it's enough to make you wish for Garrett Neff to show up in your bed with the paper on Sunday morning...

Oh hey, look at that...