Get Your Gender Theory On
I keep looking for meaning in this article which ran in the Star Trib today: Men: Your Valentine's gift guide by Melissa Heckscher of the LA Daily News. But I'm not sure I'm succeeding. Here's my attempt at a summary:
A. Valentine's Day is a plot perpetrated by females who "get all wistful the moment you hand us a dozen roses and a Hallmark card on Feb 14." Males have to suck it up and deal.
B. Women are "not totally shallow" except on this day, but they'd really prefer receiving something handmade and thoughtful. Or at least claim to.
C. Don't send an inappropriate or wrong message with your gift.
Even by the standards of Style-section puff pieces this is pretty weak. And quoting the executive editor of Maxim? Please.
"Right or wrong, it's the lone holiday that speaks to their need for validation as a woman," Burchette says. "Men don't need validation the way women do, which is why we spend our lives trying to placate women."
Given that Maxim is all about making men feel validated about their desires, this is something of a stretch...
OK, let's ignore the hetero-normative angle. (Sorry, can't help out there.) The message appears to be: Valentine's Day is about prodding men to get off their lazy asses and do something for their women. Who are merely passive receptors of romantic attention. This is so screwed up that I am having trouble not ending the rant right here. Let's get out the clue-bat:
Clue #1: People of all genders like romantic attention and thoughtfulness.
Clue #2: People of all genders will tend to take existing relationships for granted and can occasionally use a kick in the rear.
Clue #3: Some people like being surprised. Some people really are difficult to buy for. But mostly a romantic partner will tell you what he or she would like to receive as a gift.
A. Valentine's Day is a plot perpetrated by females who "get all wistful the moment you hand us a dozen roses and a Hallmark card on Feb 14." Males have to suck it up and deal.
B. Women are "not totally shallow" except on this day, but they'd really prefer receiving something handmade and thoughtful. Or at least claim to.
C. Don't send an inappropriate or wrong message with your gift.
Even by the standards of Style-section puff pieces this is pretty weak. And quoting the executive editor of Maxim? Please.
"Right or wrong, it's the lone holiday that speaks to their need for validation as a woman," Burchette says. "Men don't need validation the way women do, which is why we spend our lives trying to placate women."
Given that Maxim is all about making men feel validated about their desires, this is something of a stretch...
OK, let's ignore the hetero-normative angle. (Sorry, can't help out there.) The message appears to be: Valentine's Day is about prodding men to get off their lazy asses and do something for their women. Who are merely passive receptors of romantic attention. This is so screwed up that I am having trouble not ending the rant right here. Let's get out the clue-bat:
Clue #1: People of all genders like romantic attention and thoughtfulness.
Clue #2: People of all genders will tend to take existing relationships for granted and can occasionally use a kick in the rear.
Clue #3: Some people like being surprised. Some people really are difficult to buy for. But mostly a romantic partner will tell you what he or she would like to receive as a gift.