Years ago I had read a piece by Germaine Greer called 'The Female Eunuch.' While for centuries the men versus women debate has been going on, of late I feel it is men who have got a raw deal in the whole matter. While a woman is expected to be slim, fair, softspoken, good tempered, well mannered with long eyelashes, a 36-24-36 figure, has anyone ever asked this question 'what men want?'
Come to think of it, while a number of movies have been made exploring the female psyche, why has no one ever bothered about the men? While artists have gone around painting Madonna, Mona Lisa (Controversial though it may be, I still think its a girl!), and our very own Madhuri-fida Hussain, why has no one ever thought about a man's insecurities and emotions? While innumerable books are available about a woman's mind, why does a man have to be associated with your typical textbook daddy-types in every book? And why do women scream at men if they want them to behave like their mothers?
While men have been given the biological ability (or so nowadays, it seems) to listen and endure, I'm coming to the question that's been plaguing me for quite some time now, Why does a man have to be a man?
The thought first crept into my mind when I noticed some of my closest female friends, spend hours discussing 'cute guys' and all my male friends discuss girls with big assets. Has ANYONE ever bothered to look deeper? There may be no harm in letting your hormones take control of your senses for some time, but to make 'bird watching' the only objective of your life? C'mon people, GROW UP! (Or maybe I should change my opinions about people who are overly Heterosexual, which means most men!)
Why can't a man have a sexual taste other than Women, men or both? Why do we have only three choices? (The same rule applies for women as well, but since we are stuck in a post thats discussing the male psyche, objections are rendered unnecessary!)
Not Women, men or both? Then what, animals? Sex is supposed to be a union of souls, a way of realising the most primal instincts about your beloved, don't reduce it to a throb or an itch in your loins.
Why does every man in the world have to be associated with 'earning bread for the family?' Why can't a man have a life of his own, where he can do something for his own interest, without having to worry about a four or five mouths to feed. Why do our boys have to be pushed into 'software jobs' to earn fat paycheques, have a pretty wife and a couple of kids, a car and a house? Why doesn't anyone ever think of a man's deeper needs of spiritual satisfaction and happiness?
I'm not saying women are better off. Just that no one ever thinks of the men. Could be because women think about themselves and men think about them. Why do men have to sit in chai shops and stare, whistle and pass lewd comments when agirl passes by. Why can't they keep their hands to themselves in a crowded bus? And when some perverts do things like this, why are all men expected to do the same? And why do most of them do? Why does every guy on Brigade road in Bangalore, Colaba Causeway in Mumbai and Parle point in Surat have to check the girls out. We seem to have lost ourselves in our heterosexuality.
And why is a gay guy supposed to wear pink?!? Can't he have a taste other than pink? or better still, why cant a breeder wear a pink shirt without being called gay? Why are men and women alike, not supposed to experiment with their sexuality, and those who do, have to be called perverts? Why does a man have to go to the gym to build his biceps and not shave his underarm hair? Why does every man have to pretend to be a different species, ignore his X chromosome and go on being the male eunuch?
Rhetoric overdose? I simply did not find a better way to put this rant across!
Current Read: Hari Kunzru: The impressionist
Current Music: Goodbye Earl, Dixie Chicks (Erm, it was last night, Chalega?)
Current Movie: I have no time to watch Omkaara.... :(
