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The Forum > Article Comments > Jobs for the girls > Comments

Jobs for the girls : Comments

By Babette Francis, published 11/2/2013

So far as I know, prior to this appointment, Mathieson had shown no interest or expertise in men's health or fatherhood issues.

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no man in australia would regard timmy as a man.

He has few manly attributes.
Posted by imajulianutter, Wednesday, 13 February 2013 5:46:08 PM
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An excellent article, refreshingly logical, rational, succinct and relevant to today. One thing missing, Babette, is the emasculation of men through dress codes. While women are encouraged to wear less and less, exposing more and more, the reverse has happened to men. No male under twenty-five, unless he has the body of a porn star, will dare to show his thighs - long baggies being the only approved wear even in dangerous swimming conditions. Chests are never bared because even on the hottest days T-shirts [the worst possible garment] are demanded, and no male under about thirty would dare wear anything that indicates he might possess a set of genitals. Instead of being proud to be male, men are becoming ashamed and this translates into an unconscious dislike of women who are absurdly proud of being born female. Feelings of inferiority lead to violence, which is, predictably, increasing.
Posted by ybgirp, Friday, 15 February 2013 10:07:51 AM
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ybgirp,

I think it was a fairly brief period in the 60's/70's where men donned Speedos for recreational swimming (as opposed the the competitive variety or lifesaving)...around that time they also took to wearing their hair long.

Aside from that, when have men ever paraded the outline of their genitals so that it can now be regarded as a regression that they now wear more covering when swimming?

I agree that women have been letting it all hang out for some considerable time, although I think the reasons are complex. It wasn't that long ago in the scheme of things that if one left the house without a hat (and gloves) that women felt under-dressed (my mother's era).
Posted by Poirot, Friday, 15 February 2013 10:42:00 AM
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Poirot, I was born in 1941, and have lived in New Zealand, Europe and Australia. Photos from my father's and his parents' era indicate that it was little different then from what I experienced all my life until the late eighties - men wore brief togs for swimming and by the fifties, socially and in all sports shorts were very short and tight, including school uniform shorts because long ones were forbidden. Men have always been easy about displaying their bodies until the influence of the USA with their 'Bermudas' and other religiously inspired puritanical ideas began to influence the rest of the world. This is a retrograde step and the unstated notion that ordinary men are not sexy, only women are, is the unconscious cause of much of the frustration experienced by many men. The fact that the internet is awash with millions of amateur photographs of naked men, taken by themselves and their friends, is but one indication of this.
Posted by ybgirp, Friday, 15 February 2013 5:06:52 PM
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Ybgirp, (What an unusual nomme de plume - guess it spells out something? Any hints?)

> the unstated notion that ordinary men are not sexy, only women are, is the unconscious cause of much of the frustration experienced by many men.<

What frustration? Not everyone can look like Apollo, but if we work at it we can still be a reasonable 'catch'. We just have to be comfortable in our own skin, and live with whatever limitations we may have. 'Worth' is a state of mind, and we shouldn't let anyone else determine it for us.

As for 'sexiness', being a straight 'bloke' myself, I think women ARE sexy (well a helluva lot of them anyway - and Pericles and Poirot absolutely turn me on with their writing), but I'm afraid I don't think of men as being 'sexy', myself included (handsome as all get-out maybe, but not sexy) - but, strangely enough, a number of women have thought me sexy, and one or two still do. Amazing. I don't know your situation, but I'm happy to let the girls decide on that one.

Anyway, I don't think anyone should be embarrassed about showing their 'body', Speedos included. For years I wore Speedos doing surf lifesaving, and I never felt uncomfortable, and I still wear 'em at the beach or pool if I want, with no misgivings. (If the 'girls' can wear a skimpy bikini, what the hell I say. And they have no illusions about our equipment anyway.)

The problem we have with Speedos these days is the jibing poor old Tony Abbott got about his 'budgie smugglers' - made everyone 'aware', ooh, aah. Suddenly people got all coy; but I don't think the 'girls' really give a rats. It's amazing how something that nobody took any notice of before, suddenly becomes a source of oh, shock horror. Just so juvenile. And still the girls do their best to leave almost nothing to the imagination (more power to them I say). (TBC>)
Posted by Saltpetre, Saturday, 16 February 2013 6:53:02 AM
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(Cont'd.)

I really think the young gentlemen of today are just more clothes- and fashion-conscious than you or I might have been, and probably a lot more 'spoiled', but I've seen no evidence that they might be 'shy' or embarrassed about their bodies. (And judging by the antics they seem to get up to, I tend to think they have no problem at all in that direction.) However, the posting of 'exposed' images (male or female) on the 'net' or mobile phone is quite honestly rather disturbing. I really don't know what's in their minds? It just seems such a stupid thing to do. (A 'dare' maybe, or showing off?)

As for the main topic: Possibly the problem I and perhaps quite a few other men have with women in power, as executives or bosses, is the contrast with the image of the 'girls' frolicking at the beach, or wherever - but that's really our problem, and we need to grow up and get over it.

In my view, our womenfolk have every right to share in all the spoils on offer in our free and democratic society, and deserve every opportunity to realize their dreams, just as much as anyone else. Male chauvinism belongs in the past, and the sooner our lads and lasses get that straight, the better. Girls really have to stop deferring and kowtowing to the boys, and have much more respect for themselves, their capabilities and their individual rights. IMHO.
Posted by Saltpetre, Saturday, 16 February 2013 6:53:11 AM
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