Rant&Rave: Gender

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BOYS.jpgRANT&RAVE – Bite sized stories about life, the universe and advertising, written by those in the thick of it.

Man oh man, it’s getting harder not to say the wrong thing on the subject – but I just started this sentence with something that might offend.

I’m all for gender equality, and this article is nothing more than a light-hearted discussion about what’s appropriate, and what should change…

Q. Is it wrong to say ‘GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN?’

I really don’t think so.

Do you?

If it was printed on a T-shirt, would anyone complain?

Well, apparently, it’s totally wrong to print: ‘BOYS WILL BE BOYS’.

So wrong, in fact, that Peter Alexander had to pull his boys range of PJs off the shelves because of complaints.

‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’. (genre ‘non-fiction)

The title makes a bold, unapologetic statement that we are different.

In fact, worlds apart!

So, is it an offensive title?

If it was called ‘Men and Women are from Earth’ would be a best seller, or even published?

It’s interesting having our differences.

It’s fun.

Let’s enjoy them.

Explore them.

Celebrate them.

Learn from them.

I recently said to my partner who wanted a night-in

“You just want to watch a chick-flick…?”

I instantly realised, I’d just done the movie equivalent of #LIKEAGIRL

‘What’s a ‘chick-flick’ movie…?’

Eat Prey Love?

Sleepless in Seattle?

La La Land?

The Notebook?

HELL NO!

Girls want to watch Blade Runner just as much as boys (probably to get closer to Ryan Gosling and not my ugly, dumb, belligerent ass).

Totally understandable.

Best to say nothing and just ‘Netflix and Chill’

Times have changed…

I remember when ‘online dating’ was a new thing – and it was really creepy!

Cut to 2018, and the creepy thing is someone in real life approaching you and actually ‘talking.’

This is the ‘real time’ world we live in, where the wrong words can be your last words. Online quotes are forever.

Fact. We ARE different.

We have different bathrooms.

I’m wondering why we still have a ‘dress’ as a symbol for women on a billion bathroom doors worldwide.

A dress? That’s a little yesterday.

Maybe that should change?

A man walking home in his suit and tie and briefcase saying “Hi Honey, I’m home” feels totally out-of-place in today’s world, as it suggests the man is coming home to a woman waiting for him.

What would sound even stranger is the PC version of that cliche:

“Hi Partner, I’m home. Are you also here yet?”

It’s better to just change the narrative altogether and leave the past behind us – and start a new dialogue.

 

There has always been a line that separates good and bad – a laugh from a cringe – a universal line that every person instinctively knows NOT to cross. Especially now.

So play nice boys and girls – and not exclusively in that particular order.

Gender equality is something to embrace moving forward.

It should be the next giant step for mankind.

Oh shit! Can we say that?