They're actually quite bizarre. I'm always fascinated to know what straight men talk about with each other. Only recently have I started paying attention!
G and I are always surrounded by bromance, whether in public or a family party. We try not too be too obvious, just can;t help but listen at restaurants. We've heard it all, we were laughing about it last night. Different women (I love the conversations men have about women. It's always the same. The worst guy always has the most to say. Do men see this situation as women do? Do they recognize that he's bluffing, or is this just expected?), sporting events (we tune out), other guys (applause for anything disgusting or embarrassing), and, my absolute favorite, penises (Thank God never this conversation from our sea of relatives!).
You have to wonder what it must be like to walk around with that thing dangling between your legs all day. Is it painful like if you go to long without a bra? How do men run?! I'd be afraid to lose a... Why were they so against skinny jeans for so long? I would think its an excuse to show off - which explains why European men love them, or it just keeps it all in place. How do they deal with waxing or clipping it? Having been with men of all different, erm, types, you get the feeling they're all kind of looking for women to be impressed somehow, whether or not this is warranted - usually the man least warranted is the most transparent in this. Where do men learn that; this need for penis approval? From a young age, women's magazines always tell you to say something like "It just feel SO big" whether or not you have to lie. Are there women that actually say this?! Don't guys catch on after all these women say the same thing, or is it like "Oh, God, you're sooo skinny!" where you don't even care if it's true?
All of my gay guy friends tell me the conversations straight guys have with them and around them about penises. What is it about gay men that straight ones are so curious about? They look at A, I totally see it. They used to ask about his sex life, they're always amazed by it. Maybe men are curious about each other? They even enjoy a lot of the same 80's music he loves!
What I haven't listened to, however, in a very long time, is when they discuss emotion. I think that society picks women to be inferior, sensitive, needing some sort of protection from the outside world. But it strikes me lately how sensitive the opposite sex really is; especially when the negativity comes from females. Women are stronger, we carry on, we bitch, we moan, we get over it. Women are more resilient; we have networks, friends who'll scowl at the offending party and laugh over it with you for weeks, months. Guys don't have the same opportunity. That must be hard, it really must. I never appreciated that. Fortunate enough to be raised in a home with a father who valued strong women, I've never thought about what it must have been like for S and S to put up with me. They never yelled back. Obsessed with trying to prove myself; prove I could do everything myself. When does it end?
I've been terrible, really.
Enlightening.
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