The text below is taken from a Google+ post which has been one of the most commented on in recent days. If you can bring yourself to get all the way through I have put some comments of my own at the end. If not, you're not missing much as after the first 5. instructions in "how to make a woman happy" it goes on without saying much. I think we get the general idea. I shall not name the poster, but *shock horror* it was a man.
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HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY
1. Feed him
2. Sleep with him
3. Leave him with peace
4. Don't check his phone (Msgs)
5. Don't bother him with his movements
So whats so hard about that?
HOW TO MAKE A WOMAN HAPPY
It's really not too difficult but.... To make a
woman happy, a man only needs
to be:
1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a plumber
10. a mechanic
11. a carpenter
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:
44. give her compliments
regularly
45. Go shopping with her
46. be honest
47. be very rich
48. not stress her out
49. not look at other girls
AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU
MUST ALSO:
50. give her lots of attention
51. give her lots of time,
especially time for herself
52. give her lots of space, never
worrying about where she goes.
BUT MOST OF ALL IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT
53. never forget
*birthdays
*anniversaries
*valentine
*arrangements she makes. —
(Copied from Facebook)
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Wow. See, the thing about saying something is "just for fun", as the poster seems all too keen to point out, is that it should attempt to be in some way, funny. This pretty much fails I think. (Gyneacolgist...seriously? Yes, legions of men out there moonlighting as OBGYNs).
Apart from the rampant sexism, there is a long list of harmful gender stereotypes reinforced by this piece, including the cruel notions that women are home-makers, cooks, and sex-slaves; they are unappreciative, demanding, neurotic, clingy and aloof, unforgiving shopaholics. Apart from the fact that some of these actually contradict each other (clingy / aloof - which is it?) the male bias almost literally leaps from the page in all its sick manhood-waving "glory". And that is just a sample from this veritable banquet of stereotypes.
The writer must be someone in an unhappy relationship and feels "nagged" or "hen pecked", this little escapade helps him feel better about himself. But wouldn't it be better still to confront the problems and discuss issues with his partner, or try professional counselling? Perish the thought that it would be possible for both men and women to move past these simplistic and repulsive norms!
By becoming the jack-of-all-trades you are effectively creating an environment where you are the go-to person for problems. Someone who takes the trouble to learn all these skills can't really moan when expected to sometimes use them. It is perfectly acceptable as a man to call out builders, electricians etc. rather than do-it-all-yourself. But this is just a microcosm of the bigger problem.
This post promotes gender roles, whilst at the same time bemoaning those self-same gender roles being imposed back. It is going in logical circles, a self-created positive feedback loop.
So at its roots is this post just an unfunny sexist jibe, or a cry for help from and to the emotionally stunted out there, chained to the dreary heteronormativity they themselves perpetuate?
Either way, well done Google+ ! D'Oh! *faceslaps*
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