I appreciate the nod Mike, and perhaps I may have come off a bit strong and falling guilty of that which I was ranting about (reading too much into something).
However it's just become such a sore spot for me, I don't mind a debate, and there are more than a few occasions here have apologized for something I said regardless of whether or not I meant any ill by the remark in question. While on other occasions if I get miffed about something, it seems people just ignore it, or move on leaving me to lick my own wounds. To be fair, this isn't really a skirtcafe issue, more an issue of meat space.
I can accept and will even
grant that I am quite often mistaken, or just out right wrong on a view or opinion of mine, but I do get greatly irked when something I say is manipulated and twisted around and then used against me. That's what sent me over the edge, and it's becoming an all too common problem.
Although as it's been said in the past, that the trouble with the written word, particularly the internet, is it's difficult to convey context and depth in engaging in written correspondence. Perhaps I took SD's comment in the wrong context, and had I had been speaking with him face to face the tone would have actually been more soft and understanding. If that was indeed the case than I do apologize.
Perhaps the other part that send me over a bit was the subject matter. Not to make light of the plight of battered and abused women, but the fact is that many men do fall victim to abusive situations. This forum has it's fair share of horror stories in that regard. A lot of it comes down the the proliferation of... here is is (and back on topic)...
rigid gender stereotypes .
But explain to me, why is it if a woman strikes a man on TV with a cast iron skillet, it's slap stick comedy, yet if a man strikes a woman with the same piece of cookware it's greatly condemned? We have seen in our own news reports, of angry girlfriends totally wailing on men, and when it's reported and you scroll down to those damned facebook comments, the prevalent view point seems to hover around "
he must have done something to provoke her!" Every now and then someone might comment a remark on how this is a matter of abuse, and this person is greeted with replies of being called a misogynist pig....
Why is this? For ever since I've been old enough to follow social customs, one thing I learned pretty early on in life, and that is, due to my sex, my blood just isn't worth anything, and the only way I'll find acceptance is if I sit down, shut up, and know my place. My gender role is to provide, not be provided for, to care, not be cared for, to listen, not speak, to be hit, but not defend myself, and if I should be raped, my role is to like it and be counted lucky that I should have the gracious gift of sex with a woman and not have to pay for it.
I think this is why so many people (men and women) are irked by my choice in clothing. Wearing skirts and dresses can AND does complicate my standing with society at large. It has the potential to greatly damage my reputation, and thus
my ability to turn a dollar. This equates to my ability or inability to make a living, and (here comes that word again)...
provide for my family. My role in society isn't to "look pretty", wear dresses, skirts, or anything else. My job is to dress in a manner to increase my earning potential so that I may be a good
provider for
women and children who may depend on me...
Men aren't allowed to have a soul, souls are a distraction... our job is to make life easy for people. Well I'll be damned! (no pun intended
)
On another note, I used to think there are no shelters for battered men in the U.S.... I realized upon reflection of this topic that I was greatly in error here...
The fact is, there are shelters for battered men, and other men who have fallen victim of the strict gender roles and stereotypes placed upon them by years of social conditioning.... and you're never further than fifty to a hundred miles from one....
It's called a
prison....
... think about it.... if you and the old lady get into a physical fight one day, and I mean one where BOTH are at fault of hitting each other, she goes to a shelter, you go to the pen... (and I ain't talking about a utensil for writing...)