Is Meat a Must for Manly Men?

Really interesting post by Meateating Blues! On why meat is considered so manly. Read it.

Meat Eating Blues

By: Sara Siddiqi

Does a juicy steak, beer and maybe a game of poker sound like the ideal afternoon for you men on the blogosphere? I’ve always thought it was just an American television stereotype of ‘the regular guy’. But has it just reflected… or worse, created a reality?

A recent study published by the Journal of Consumer Research aimed to find out ‘whether people in Western cultures have a metaphoric link between meat and men’. It was found that:

‘to the strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-Amercan male, red meat is a strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American food’, whilst ‘Soy is not. To eat it, they would have to give up a food they saw as strong and powerful like themselves for a food they saw as weak and wimpy.’

The Gender Blender Blog points out a Campbell’s soup ad from the 1940s:

‘He-Man is the word for these hearty…

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10 things men should never say to women

We’ve all been there. You’re having an argument with your partner, brother, father, male friend, whatever. You think you are using your brain, when he suddenly says something that makes it about you being a woman. Or he might just say something in every day life that makes you think “Hang on a minute. What now?” Here is my list of 10 things men should never say to women:

1. Are you all hormonal now again?

No! Don’t! Ever!!! I’m sorry if this might come to a surprise for some of you men out there, but women actually have a BRAIN. So when a woman gets angry, moody or irritable, it doesn’t mean that it’s always just due to a sudden rush of hormones. Ever stopped to think we are simply reacting to something in our environment, like stress or someone (maybe you) saying something out of line? Our reaction is our BRAIN sending signals to our NERVE SYSTEM that we aren’t so happy right now. No woman likes being treated like a bag of hormones.

2. You look sexy when you’re angry!

I’m angry. I want you to listen. The last thing I want to feel, is that I’m just a sexy thing for you. “aaaw, look at those fierce eyes, and that passionate expression…mmm…”. Ehhhhhh. No.

3. You should be aware of how men look at you in bars. I don’t like it.

Ok first of all: I don’t go to bars to count the men checking me out. That’s a waste of my time. Second of all, I don’t need to be aware of anything like that. It’s not my job or my duty. And if you don’t like it, beat it.

4. I’m not gonna let you pay! You’re a woman!

Yes, well observed dick head, and you’re a man! Ok, I know that sometimes it is really nice to have someone take you out. I certainly appreciate that. But in return, I like to pay, too! Nowadays, most women work, and make their own money. So to offer to pay, because I’m a woman, is lame. To offer because you like me, and want to show that, or because I’m a poor student, and you have a job, totally OK!

5. You really remind me of my ex-girlfriend.

…..who you’re no longer together with. Eh, anyone else getting disturbed here? No one wants to feel like they’re in a recycled relationship. That YOU’RE recycled. Don’t be stupid man. Don’t say that.
6. Women’s football sucks. Girls don’t know anything about sports anyway.

Why do some men assume that the female brain for some reason can’t handle information about sports? Physically, we might be weaker, but that doesn’t mean we can’t ever keep up with the sports talk. What an insult! My 5-year-old niece has probably been to more football games than most of her male friends. Pah.

7. It’s ugly when women smoke. They shouldn’t do that.

Cause it’s so damn pretty when a man smokes or what? Holding a stick in your hand is soooo manly! Having an addiction is never pretty. But neither is having women behave so that they look good in men’s eyes.

8. You can party like a man!

I am a woman. I am partying. Therefore, I party like a woman. Simple logic. Get it?

9. Be careful when lifting that, you might break a nail!

Oh, sarcasm. Because yes, ALL women and girls spend hours every week getting their nails done. No. Some do, some don’t. Please don’t assume that my entire universe spins around my next manicure.

10. (Trying to be cute): Girls don’t poop! Hihi!

STOP GIGGLING! Actually, you’re right. I come from Fairy Tale Land, where women never have their periods and never poop. Because not only did God take out a rip, he also decided to take out our bowls! The anus is just there for your pleasure. Some men might think it’s really cute and all to say that when entering the flatulent stage of the relationship, but many girls actually have deeply rooted anxiety to ever do number 2 in the presence of their new boyfriend, because of the stupid notion that girls are just too feminine to do a stinker.

Add Frequency: Feminism!

I just want to make sure no one out there has missed Feminist Frequency.

(Banner logo: http://www.feministfrequency.com)

It’s a brilliant idea by Anita Sarkeesian, who is a feminist pop culture media critic, to look at and analyze the gender roles in pop culture. In thoroughly researched video clips she talks about everything from female stereotypes in Hollywood movies (see below) to the differences of the gender roles in the Hunger Games book vs the Hunger Games movies.

The video clip below is one of my favorites:

 

Gender Vs. Sex, well written piece on the very important difference between these two!

Gender Blog by Darlene Tando, LCSW

Recently I had a conversation with my in-laws about a “Gender Revealing” party they saw on television. The expectant couple had the ultrasound technician find out the sex of the baby, write it on a card, and the couple didn’t peek at it. (Now that’s self-control!) They gave the card to a bakery, and a special cake was made based on what the card read.  At the “Gender Revealing” party, when they cut it open, a pink or a blue cake was discovered, thereby revealing the “gender” of the baby to be. My response? “I went to a party like that! Except they called it a ‘Sex Party’, which is what it was… they were revealing the sex of the baby, not the gender.  The true gender won’t be revealed until the baby is much older.” The blank stares I was met with weren’t surprising. So few people ever think…

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Chickspotting

American playboy Joe Bovino is coming out with his book “Field Guide to Chicks of the United States” this June. It’s similar to a bird watching book – but with women instead. Now, thanks to entertaining insights from someone who knows it all and has done it (them) all, every dude can set out in the wilderness and find themselves one of the 92 species of women. It’s a matter of either laughing or crying. Probably the first.”I’d read it to get a laugh,” says American student Steve, 25. “Because somethings are probably true, stereotypes come from somewhere. Maybe it will engender some kind of feminist revolt, which would be refreshing, since feminism is dead in the States.”

But Lindy West from online based women’s magazine Jezebel, seemed to have cried when the reading the press release (see further down). In her article she writes: “Bovino makes sure to let us ladies know that this book isn’t just for men—there’s a lot that women can learn from it too: “Single chicks can use this book to keep an eye on the competition and pick up valuable inside information.” Wow, thanks! Because if there’s one thing women need help with, it’s figuring out new ways to compare ourselves to other women.”

Either way, it seems this book will spur many debates when it hits the shelves this summer. The tone of the book seems to be sexist, but at the same time it appears to be taking a piss out of American stereotypes, which in effect could have positive impact on the feminist debate.

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Here’s the press release:

“The “Field Guide to Chicks of the United States” is the must-have summer book as your readers hit the road this summer. The book will help you learn how to spot, identify, admire and appreciate American women all across the country.

Author Joe Bovino has identified 92 different “species” of women across the country. There’s Miss Texas, who is known for her big, blonde hair, large breasts, a natural tan and megawatt smile. She is frequently spotted in cowboy boots, short shorts and designer clothes and accessories. You’ll be able to spot her at a beauty salon, beauty pageant, country club or church. The Phillycat is a tiger on the outside and pussycat on the inside who cares mainly about family, friends and basic necessities. She’s likely spotted in a neighborhood bar, coffee shop or shopping mall. And on the West Coast, you are likely to encounter the Peace of Ass who is typically a personal trainer, psychologist or massage therapist. Her “song” is talking about inner peace, personal growth and meaningful relationships. Look for her in health food stores, yoga or Pilates studios, canyons, trails and spiritual centers. On the cover, you can see Afrodisiac, Country Biscuit and Taco Belle!

Bovino is giving his gift of Chickspotting to all mankind in this new book, which offers amusing insights into the most distinctive physical characteristics, vocalizations, behavioral tendencies and mating habits of American Chicks from regional and ethnic subculture (or species) across the country. Inside you will also find vivid illustrations of each Chick, color-coded range maps and other “Chick magnet” guidance.

Set up much like a bird guide, it sticks to the facts that Chickspotters can see out in the “wild.” Instead of identifying why women in America behave as they do or look a certain way – it examines what they do and how to spot them when they do it, all while admiring and appreciating them in their natural habitat.

As Bovino says – Birds are cute, but Chicks are better.

The “Field Guide to Chicks in the United States” will get men and women talking, and your readers will appreciate the facts that will surely help them improve their dating lives, and crack a smile while doing so.

The book is full of amazing full-color illustrations that you will have to see to believe. Men will want to see how many they recognize or can cross off their to-do list; and women will want to see if you can “spot” themselves in the book. Let me get a copy out to you to see for yourself, and I’d love to get your thoughts on the book’s concept. The book will be available for pre-order now at http://www.fieldguidetochicks.com and will be available this summer. Joe is available for interviews and the book is also available for give-a-ways.”

Pink is for Girls. Or is it?

Most expecting couples are expected to know their child’s gender and accordingly arrange the future kid’s colour scheme. Which mostly means: Pink for girls, and blue for boys. And ever since prenatal testing was made possible, the gender-stereotyped clothing of children boomed.

But it appears pink hasn’t always been on the girly side. Cracked.com recently posted a piece called “5 Gender Stereotypes that used to be the exact opposite“.

There you can find out about how pink and blue don’t seem to be biologically predestined preferences in boys and girls. Instead it seems like every sixty years or so, notions of what is masculine and feminine change.

Before World War I, girls and boys wore basically the same colours. But as it’s stated in a 1918 editorial from Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department,  it suddenly mattered. “There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy; while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl,” the editorial reads.

So blue for girls and pink for boys. It wasn’t until the 1940’s when (American) retailers decided that pink was a bigger hit for girls.

Jo B. Paoletti, author of Pink and Blue: Telling the Girls From the Boys in America, told the Smithsonian magazine it could have been the other way today. “The more you individualize clothing, the more you can sell,” she said. This is part of the first-wave feminists problem with pink. Paoletti also said that since it was an appointed colour for girls and femininity, the feminists often felt clothes were being used to push girls into their expected roles as women.

The colours Per Se don’t appear to be the problem. The problem arises instead when even babies have to fit in to a specific gender-stereotype. But according to Paoletti, as quoted on the Smithsonian Magazine, people are starting to move away from pink vs blue. “There is a growing demand for neutral clothing for babies and toddlers now, too.”

But many parents still think it’s important to dress their babies in either pink or blue. 34-year-old Janine knew she would have a boy, and immediately set out to buy clothes and decorate her son’s room. In blue. “Me and my partner both value traditions. And I don’t think that it’s harmful for boys and girls to be dressed in either pink or blue.” Janine thinks that if she were to dress her now 2-year-old son in pink or any other “girly” colour, people could get confused. “It’s hard to tell the gender of a baby. That’s why it’s so good to have two different colours. And our son won’t be confused either,” she says. While she doesn’t necessarily care about her sons future sexuality, she says there is a reason why society has chosen this colour codes. “Girls and boys mostly do like to play with different things. And if there are either manly toys or girly ones, in blue or pink, the differences between the two sexes and in effect sexualities becomes clearer. This also means it will probably be clearer for a child growing up to discover if he or she doesn’t fit in to the expected roles,” Janine claims. “Maybe blue was for girls before, but it’s not the colour that matters. It’s what it means.”

You got stereotyped!

The language. A tool for many beautiful and many horrible things in the world. In Sweden there is a debate going on right now about using a gender neutral pronoun when addressing children in preschools. In Swedish, “he” is “han”, and “she” is “hon”. Now, many preschools choose to say “hen” instead, used for both boys and girls.

I wrote an article about it a year ago for AP, read it here

To what extent should we modify our language to avoid stereotypes? Why is it a bad thing to say him or her? To me, that is going too far. Him or Her is and shouldn’t be bad, but by using a neutral pronoun instead, the children will eventually start to think that He/She, Him/Her are taboo-words and be right up there with Fuck, Pussy, Cunt and Dick. And what not.

But.

I DO agree with the fact that language can enforce old-fashioned stereotypes. Take a look at this article for example, published in London’s Evening Standard on Tuesday the 13th of March 2012.

Mass-media should be more aware of gender stereotyping.

How do they describe the two women’s get-together? First of all, they are not independent women involved in politics. No. They are “WIVES”. And they are “QUIET”, having a “MEAL”, while the “BOYS” are at a “GAME”.

It fulfills ALL the stereotypes of women and boys, and the picture sits perfect on top of it. Hello, since when are we back in the 1950’s?

Another sentence that will make every conservative smile: “They are expected to discuss their FAMILIES, life in the media spotlight and the hectic programme during the Camerons’ three-day visit to Washington and New York.” … “Mrs Cameron and Mrs Obama, WHO BOTH REGULARLY JOG AND WORK OUT (what???), struck their friendship ….”

You get it? So if any budding journalists are reading this – don’t only be aware of grammatical errors, but also these – far more worse – gender stereotyping errors.