Female Chauvinism

Sometimes, you must truly pity the male specy.

Despite conventional notion that females are often the ones under scutiny, judgement and constraints, our male counterparts actually have it quite bad too. Ok, the phenomenon I'm about to describe only exists in 1st world countries like Singapore. If you are living in some oppressed nation where people are still in the 3rd century, then of course you have no idea what I'm talking about.

You see the thing is, men have it so bad when it comes to fashion choices. Sure, you may make up fancy new words like "metrosexual" to make male vanity sound better, but the tiniest misstep will result in you being mistaken for a gay. Or faggot. Or effeminate. Take your pick. Either that, or you are called a poseur and dismissed for your utter lack of originality.

Nowadays, men are trying to be more experimental when it comes to fashion.

You see some guys taking baby steps and accepting their more feminine side: embracing the colours pink and purple, carrying large tote bags and spending so much time in the toilet primping that they can rival females. But don't you see, it may be fashionable, but that sure ain't gonna stop the gay label. Think David Beckham. Or Jerry Yen. Some of the most gorgeous and eligible men in the world, who unfortunately, have a taste for experimenting with their feminine side. Now think of the ultimate sex symbols. Sean Connery. George Clooney. About as manly as you can get. Not a single y-chromosome out of place. Wanna be noticed? Dress like a man and stop flinching your girlfriend's/mother's underwear.

And this applies to normal human beings too. Some poor, oblivious male may think that wearing pink is cool. Nope, you're so wrong. Women are constantly checking out guys and if one of them happens to be wearing pink, it is highly probable that the female's first thought is, "Is he gay?" Yup, it's as simple as that. Judgemental and critical? You bet. Welcome to our world. And if you're one of those people who wear pink and carry a tote bag, you might as well be the poster boy for homosexuality. Can't take the scrutiny? Don't ask for it.

Women on the other hand, are so much more liberated. We can wear a myriad of colours and look utter ravishing; wear pants and exude sexuality; cut our hair short and be labelled as chic. But if a guy tries to liberate himself from typical male fashion constraints, and he may just find himself buried under a barrage of scorn and ridicule.

Female chauvinism. It attacks in the most insidious ways. The next time you step out of the house wearing something that screams "GAY!", hair that smells of too much gel, and a bag that looks like it belongs to your girlfriend, perhaps you might want to reconsider your options. There really is nothing wrong with earth colours and a nice, simple haircut. Drop the bag, though. It just ain't cool.