What makes something "girly?"
To someone that just met me, I may appear to be the girliest girl they have ever met, based on our social standards.
I live for all things feminine: shopping, decorating, primping, crying at movies, cuddling, flirting. I cross my legs and sit “politely.” I own just about every Madonna album prior to her smooching with cheesy female pop-stars on stage. I own enough shoes to cover the floor of my walk-in closet–and then some. I have read books like P.S. I Love You, The Devil Wears Prada, and Summer Sisters. I’m addicted to my digital camera, snapping photos with my friends any chance I get, hoping the next one will be myspace-worthy. I never leave my apartment without a coat of mascara. I admit to having crushes on hunky celebs such as Jake Gyllenhaal and James Franco. I own pink clothing. I will never cut my hair above shoulder length.
So what exactly makes all of this “girly” and quite not respectable for guys (other than the obvious wearing makeup and having a weakness for attractive male movie stars)? With the rise of the “Metrosexual” revolution, I’ve noticed it is more and more acceptable for men to act on these once recognized as “girly things,” yet is still taboo to discuss.
I bet if I gathered all of my male friends in a room, not one would admit to another any of their “female” tendencies. Most have admitted to me to at least liking some chick flicks. I know guys who wear clay face masks to clear their pores, guys who yearn for their first pink shirt (more than you’d think), guys who bash the TV show “Sex and the City” around other guys, but will not refuse to watch it if a girl has it on.
Most guys I know have a hair stylist they continue to go back to. Some of course, won’t admit it, while others just go to any old place that you can walk in and get a haircut for less than $20. According to Jane Magazine, 55% of men prefer to go to a barber compared to 39% who go to a hair stylist. I bet most guys are either intimidated to get a professional haircut, or scared to admit that they do something as girly as going to a hair stylist.
Today I even stumbled across a major story in the newspaper,AM New York, claiming, “hugs are the new handshake” for guys. Supposedly, thanks to TV shows like “Entourage” and the hip-hop culture, it is now acceptable for two males to embrace each other with open arms. Just a few years ago, two guys would have to grab their crotch or belch post-hug just to prove that they are manly after doing such a girly action, if doing it at all.
While I proved to have the most girlish traits and I know I was never meant to be a boy, judging by how I turned out (though, I was told I would have been named “Brian”), I can still hang with the boys. Being raised by a single father most of my life, I picked up on a thing or two. To this day, my father brags to others that when I was 12 I won a basketball foul shooting contest against all boys. In fact, I’ve always been into sports. Plus, every year for father’s day I get exactly what every father from New York wants from their daughter–Yankees tickets. While at the same time, I cannot sit through more than one ESPN Sports Center a week, let alone a day.
Like most guys take pride in, I can joke around. I can come back with witty comments to any male’s joke and impress them. I can also impress with my vast music knowledge down to who sang “Cool Like That (Rebirth of Slick)” to what’s the best song on the latest RHCP album, to even the ultimate necessity of being a male this day and age, knowing Led Zeppelin songs. Guys are often impressed with my ability to be able to guess a song on the radio with just two beats into it.
Yet for some reason, the more you read about how I can hang with the boys, the cooler I sound. Gender roles reversed, and my name was Brian, I would be considered “gay” or just a “feminine loser,” according to our social standards. Maybe the world will be a better place now that hugs among the male population is more acceptable. No one will ever know why something is considered solely a male thing or female thing. Though, one thing I know is there is nothing wrong with being a girly girl that can hang with the boys. And I like it that way.
I live for all things feminine: shopping, decorating, primping, crying at movies, cuddling, flirting. I cross my legs and sit “politely.” I own just about every Madonna album prior to her smooching with cheesy female pop-stars on stage. I own enough shoes to cover the floor of my walk-in closet–and then some. I have read books like P.S. I Love You, The Devil Wears Prada, and Summer Sisters. I’m addicted to my digital camera, snapping photos with my friends any chance I get, hoping the next one will be myspace-worthy. I never leave my apartment without a coat of mascara. I admit to having crushes on hunky celebs such as Jake Gyllenhaal and James Franco. I own pink clothing. I will never cut my hair above shoulder length.
So what exactly makes all of this “girly” and quite not respectable for guys (other than the obvious wearing makeup and having a weakness for attractive male movie stars)? With the rise of the “Metrosexual” revolution, I’ve noticed it is more and more acceptable for men to act on these once recognized as “girly things,” yet is still taboo to discuss.
I bet if I gathered all of my male friends in a room, not one would admit to another any of their “female” tendencies. Most have admitted to me to at least liking some chick flicks. I know guys who wear clay face masks to clear their pores, guys who yearn for their first pink shirt (more than you’d think), guys who bash the TV show “Sex and the City” around other guys, but will not refuse to watch it if a girl has it on.
Most guys I know have a hair stylist they continue to go back to. Some of course, won’t admit it, while others just go to any old place that you can walk in and get a haircut for less than $20. According to Jane Magazine, 55% of men prefer to go to a barber compared to 39% who go to a hair stylist. I bet most guys are either intimidated to get a professional haircut, or scared to admit that they do something as girly as going to a hair stylist.
Today I even stumbled across a major story in the newspaper,AM New York, claiming, “hugs are the new handshake” for guys. Supposedly, thanks to TV shows like “Entourage” and the hip-hop culture, it is now acceptable for two males to embrace each other with open arms. Just a few years ago, two guys would have to grab their crotch or belch post-hug just to prove that they are manly after doing such a girly action, if doing it at all.
While I proved to have the most girlish traits and I know I was never meant to be a boy, judging by how I turned out (though, I was told I would have been named “Brian”), I can still hang with the boys. Being raised by a single father most of my life, I picked up on a thing or two. To this day, my father brags to others that when I was 12 I won a basketball foul shooting contest against all boys. In fact, I’ve always been into sports. Plus, every year for father’s day I get exactly what every father from New York wants from their daughter–Yankees tickets. While at the same time, I cannot sit through more than one ESPN Sports Center a week, let alone a day.
Like most guys take pride in, I can joke around. I can come back with witty comments to any male’s joke and impress them. I can also impress with my vast music knowledge down to who sang “Cool Like That (Rebirth of Slick)” to what’s the best song on the latest RHCP album, to even the ultimate necessity of being a male this day and age, knowing Led Zeppelin songs. Guys are often impressed with my ability to be able to guess a song on the radio with just two beats into it.
Yet for some reason, the more you read about how I can hang with the boys, the cooler I sound. Gender roles reversed, and my name was Brian, I would be considered “gay” or just a “feminine loser,” according to our social standards. Maybe the world will be a better place now that hugs among the male population is more acceptable. No one will ever know why something is considered solely a male thing or female thing. Though, one thing I know is there is nothing wrong with being a girly girl that can hang with the boys. And I like it that way.
posted by Lizzy T. @ 10:00 PM
3 comments
