Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Femininity is wearing a dress? I don't think so!

I usually don't post responses to most of the blogs I read, but this one was so absurd, I simply had to. This guy is basically saying that it's great that men have now learned to cook and clean, but isn't too happy about how women can't take care of themselves anymore. But what pains him even more is the fact that women don't dress like "ladies" anymore. They're always in trousers, or in jeans, never in dresses.

Here's my response:

Honestly, I found this post extremely insensitive. Yes, the world has changed, and so have traditional gender roles. Men can now do domestic stuff and take care of themselves (more power to them!) and women are often hopeless around the house (I can't cook to save my life).

But to judge a person's femininity by the way she dresses is quite ridiculous. I don't wear skirts or dresses, because I don't find them comfortable. I prefer trousers and jeans any day. I'm Indian, so I do wear salwar kameezes very often, which is a "feminine" outfit, but again, more because they're comfortable. I usually don't enjoy wearing what considered in fashion either, because let's face it, they're not the most practical things.

Does that make me boring? Sure, a lot of my friends tell me so. Does it make me less of a woman or less "ladylike"? I refuse to believe so.

I've always believed people should dress for themselves, and what suits them. Not to cater to the whims of others, or what's "in", or what men like to ogle at.

Any thoughts?

8 comments:

The Seeker said...

I have a very simple solution... that guy needs to grow up. "Women should cook AND clean AND work like men AND wear dresses"... every teenage boy's dream! The first thing that popped into my mind when I read 'sundresses and a pony tail' was some bouncy 15-year old chattering away on her mobile. Really not what I'm looking for.
It's a well-known fact that men are immature but I think some are better at hiding it than others...

R said...

Why are you so polite? Why not just tell him 'oh my god you are such an insensitive sexist prick I hope i never ever meet you in real life because I fear for your safety and I would claw your eyes out in a very unladylike way'

ok, maybe I should tell him that.

antiglam superstar! said...

aww! I love dresses! How I'd love to flounce about town in a sundress and a ponytail! If only I had a gun strapped around my thigh..

antiglam superstar! said...

Seriously, I love dresses.. sun dresses.. cocktail dresses.. I have a closet full of dresses (that rarely see the light of day or disco-lights of the night) but I don't think it has anything to do with me being more feminine or anything.. I have a feeling, that even if I were a man, I'd have a closet full of dresses, because I find them pretty! But this guy.. has deeper (or perhaps shallower) issues, no?!

a traveller said...

Exactly! I'm all for people wearing what they want and what they like. But this guy seems to think we're being less womanly if we choose not to! x-(

antiglam superstar! said...

and did you read this!: http://www.brazencareerist.com/2008/09/16/do-women-who-wear-heels-command-more-respect

dude I wear sneaks at work all day! :(

ANC said...

I don't know whether to laugh at the dude or feel sorry for him. Ridiculous has a new name, and it's this guy's name.

By saying that we need to look more feminine, he's essentially restricting femininity to - wait for it - a garment?!!? Women define womanhood, not the other way round.

Jeez.

a traveller said...

Completely off track, but you're a HIMYM fan, aren't you? :D