As I awoke this morning, put on my clothes, and walked out to the
subway it struck me that I would make a terrible female. If twenty
three years and nine months ago a XX sperm hadn’t been boxed out by the
winning XY squad then I would be Meghan and be living a completely
different life no doubt. But this isn’t to hypothesize as to what my
life would be like, nor a backhanded way to critique what could be
perceived as flaws in the female character, but to recognize and
acknowledge just how difficult it must be to make it in this world as a
card carrying member of the XX crowd – and to wake up thanking my dad
every day for the opportunity to live as a man.
And now, Why I’m Glad I’m No Woman:
1. Female Function:
The irony behind spending all day desiring vagina is that I
wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I had been born with one (and
not in the way you’re thinking). I’m just straight up at a loss for
words at how completely difficult it must be to maintain that thing as
it seems like there is just so much that can go wrong with it. Let’s
get the obvious out of the way here – you grow and carry around a baby
for nine months as it does all kinds of fucked up shit to your body.
Good god, I can’t commit to dog sitting for two weeks (and let’s not
talk about the few unfortunate goldfish that got stuck with me at some
point in their suddenly brief life), and your body is designed to carry
around one or more humans for what can be years of your life. Now chalk
up my irresponsibility and fear of commitment to immaturity, the only
benefit to pregnancy (besides the obvious result of bearing child) is
eating whatever you want. But I do that now anyways, and when you’re
preggers in this health conscious culture you need to consider just
what you want to be feeding your unborn. Plus you can’t drink or smoke
for nine fucking months? And I imagine a cold stiff one is all you want
the whole time. I can’t even go nine days.
And to avoid pregnancy (there’s always abortion, but ye gods I
don’t want to go there – it’s just another reason why no male should
have any choice in the matter), you could go on birth control. I tried
to take a vitamin every day but barely lasted a week. Maybe my vitamin
c count is below average, but the consequences for not taking a magic
pill AT THE SAME TIME everyday is A BABY. Plus, can you imagine going
on a routine with that pill like an AIDS patient with their ACT, and
not be getting laid? I think that would derail/motivate me more than
anything, like having the ability to fly at the same time I’m scared of
being outside.
Another fantastic consequence to be responsible for fucking with
your natural menstruation cycle is this horrid phenomenon called
“spotting.” So you’re telling me that not only am I using drugs for
tricking my uterus into cleaning house once a month regardless of
visitors, but it’s going to further punish me by randomly ruining my
favorite underwear without warning at any given time? That shit’s
fucked up and when I first heard about it I could only begin to
understand how paranoid I would be – my uterus could strike at any
time!
So enough with babies – every time women have sex they have to piss
shortly afterwards to prevent infection! How is that little health tip
breached? I learned from afternoon sitcoms that all I had to do after
sex was roll over and go to sleep, but you never see a woman run for
the toilet on prime time! Even with infections and toxic shock and
birth control pills and spotting under control, there are still a
million more things that can go wrong down there! Men and women tend to
share a lot of the same STDs, but with shit like HPV (and I know
there’s more), there are diseases that guys never know they have, are
never affected by, and can pass on and kill women! The worst
consequence of sleeping with me should be a hangover, morning
awkwardness, a walk of shame, and social ridicule – never death!
It comes down to the fact that for the female gender, sex is a far
bigger risk and commitment then for men. This biological fact has
trickled down and affected EVERYTHING attributing to the differences
between our genders. Men are programmed to impregnate as many women as
possible and women are programmed to find the balance of great genes
and caretaker ability and hold him down for life. Both genders will
eternally struggle against that natural instinct in the age of birth
control and promiscuity.
Plus – another thing. Boobs. Sure guys might suffer some penis envy
when comparing oneself to a certain porn star, and often boast (usually
unfounded) at length about their length, etc. but unless you’re
streaking down the hall (and slow) there is no public display of
inadequacy. However, a woman’s chest is generally on display for
everyone to scrutinize and I can’t begin to imagine how those racks on
either extreme (huge or minimal) have to deal with the wide array of
judgment, lust, and competition out there. You might tell me that women
aren’t as self conscious about their chests like men are with their
genitals, but I’ve heard boob jobs have never been more popular, and I
can’t support that shit. Also, breast cancer is horrible and very
public whereas I could switch out a nut for a bouncy ball and not
notice the difference. Plus running without a jock strap is nothing
compared to doing so without a sports bra.
In conclusion on this point: I was born, circumcised, and since
haven’t had to care for my male genitals more so than my elbow. I’ll
take a few cheap shots to the nuts over childbirth (or as I hear,
stretching my lips over my head).
2. Looking presentable is time consuming and co$tly for females.
As I mentioned earlier, I can wake up, pick up the clothes off the
floor, and walk out the door. The necessary maintenance for myself (and
I’m talking minimum here) includes:
- a $12 haircut every two for four months
- replacing a razor/shaving cream every other month
- a bottle of hair gel each year
- a bottle of Pert Plus and Body Wash a month
and LITERALLY that’s it. When I’ve worn every article of clothing I
own, I walk downstairs and shove everything into a giant laundry
machine and after a drying cycle replaced them in my room. That’s
laundry and that’s about once a month as well. I can exist with a nail
clipping here and there, on a load of laundry a month and a trip to
Duane Reade every other. I’m no movie star or gorgeous athlete, I’m
just an average looking male whose day to day consists of little more
than a shave and a shower.
Women, on the other hand, might be able to get away with running
out the door once in a while, but spend almost equal time preparing for
leaving the apartment as they spend on the outside.
Let’s start at the top.
Haircuts for women are pricey. Sure, I might have a few options
when figuring out how to style my hair, but the possibilities for
females are endless – I can’t even wrap my head around it. For that,
they pay way too much money too often at the salon for a cut, at the
store for products, in the bathroom/bedroom for washing, drying, and
styling purposes. Then when you go out, it’s windy, and all been done
for naught. When I’m feeling wild, I squeeze some goop in my hand and
run it through my hair that’s been shampooed and conditioned by one
product. Done.
Aside from eyebrow plucking, face waxing, mascara, foundation,
blush, eyeliner, lipstick, blah blah blah, a woman is never satisfied
with her face, which is why we rarely get to see it al natural. All
that money is spent on creams and cosmetics and pain to put on a face
and take it off daily, everyday. And like most painters that can’t
leave well enough alone, the imperfections are covered up with more
imperfections and the makeup just piles on until it’s beyond excessive.
I am eternally grateful for the option to not have a mirror in my place
and coming to grips that I wouldn’t be able to change anything anyway.
Then we get to the wardrobe. I can mix and match shirts and pants,
shirts and ties, etc. All I need is a brown/black belt/set of shoes and
a suit. I know exactly what is expected of me at a formal, business,
and casual event and can match it easily. There is little demand to be
creative and successful outfits are often repeated. I don’t know where
I’d find the money or closet space to meet the demands placed on the
women of our fashion focused culture. You will never have enough shoes,
dresses, outfits, or accessories and we all know this. I celebrate the
fact that as long as I’m socially presentable I’ll never have to go
beyond dressing to impress on a daily basis. I can change clothes in
less than a minute and not have to question how I look because 94% of
the people that will see me that day won’t give a fuck. Not so for
women. You judge yourself, you judge each other – it’s something you
expect and demand. There’s nothing more I can say about your clothes
except that I would never be accepted by better dressed people if I
were a girl.
Men are hairy. I like that. Even when we don’t shave we look ok,
whereas women are presumed hairless from eyelashes down and that’s a
lot to live up to. If I had to shave my legs everyday just to leave the
house I might just move to someplace North where it’s cold all the
time. Plucking, waxing, shaving, creams, etc. etc. you’re a slave to
the standard. And you know what? It’s nice. You’re soft, smooth, sleek,
and beautiful in all the ways men are not and that’s what makes me a
heterosexual. There’s really nothing I can say or do or think to change
this fact that I’m just super happy it’s ok for me to be hairy. I
embrace it today as I embraced it a decade ago – I’m just glad I don’t
have to do it.
And finally, in this category at least, your bodies: Women, I
presume, are under pressure to have big boobs, no waist, nice ass,
toned legs, et al. I’d say it’s a fact that where a guy can manage a
larger waistline, a belly is very exaggerated on a woman. It’s in part
due to the way dresses and tight tops are made for women, or how
exposed midriffs happen frequently, but it’s noticeable. So, not only
are you shilling for manicures, pedicures, facials, “getting your hair
done,” more shoes, shirts, dresses, purses, jewelry, etc. but if you
aren’t in a gym, you’re doing something wrong. The big man is
respected, the big woman mocked – that’s just how it is. Watch a Hungry
Man commercial then flip to Kristie Ally hawking weight watchers
products. How terrible that on top of your stomach crunches you
shouldn’t be drinking beer or eating wings or enjoying carbs and
calories? Case in point – the King of Queens (big man Kevin James) and
his super hot wife.
And if you do all of this right? You’re wearing the right power
suit to command respect and attention whilst still asserting your
womanhood, trimmed, styled, and primped to feel the confidence you need
to do anything, and? The end result is you’re still hit on by some
sleazy drunk guy at the bar. Well, hey, you get free drinks and you
might as well stay out, it took you over an hour to get ready to leave
anyhow.
3. Female role models?
My last point in this long winded rant, and before you jump all
over me here, is that I’m glad to be a guy because they public figures
I want to relate to are guys. Now, hold on, think for a minute. What
are some of your favorite bands? Favorite tv shows? Favorite writers?
Favorite celebrities? It’s natural to want to be them and when you’re
singing along; it’s a guy’s voice isn’t it? I’m selfish to want my
karaoke attempt to be in the same tone as the original artist. I’m
selfish to read and want to relate to my favorite writers because even
though they’re gay (Sedaris, Palahniuk, Burroughs) they’re still guys.
How many famous comedians are of the XX clan? We all know Silverman
isn’t really that funny. Simply put, the media is still dominated right
now by men. Women are taking an edge, but I’m still in the majority. I
mean, perhaps I’m naturally drawn to guys BECAUSE I relate to them, but
I wouldn’t be surprised that women have more men on their bookshelves,
in their ipods, and next to the tv. I’ll take Indiana Jones over Tomb
Raider and James Bond over Devil Wears Prada.
To conclude this whole damn thing, I just want to say I love women
and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the pressures on the gender
as a whole and don’t think I would be able to hack it. I’ve gained a
new respect for you all because you put up with us. I can understand
being crazy because it would make me crazy too. And I just want to
thank you for all the work you all do for us. Women are the number one
reason I’m not gay and I’m certain gay men appreciate you for that as
well.
Taken from Craigslist http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/rnr/372316449.html
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