Uncouth Reflections

Paleo Retiree writes:

Here’s a little scene I witnessed the other day at an airport:

There’s much to be remarked on in this photo where current relations between the sexes go. As for the woman: her attitude of wide-awake in-chargeness: her broadly-spread, crossed legs, as aggressive as a pro baseball player’s, taking up space purely for the pleasure of establishing a territorial claim; the CEO-in-the-making zigzag of her spine; the combo of intensity and aloofness in her facial expression, pressing her point home coldly and firmly. She’s all cockiness, assertiveness, impatience, guidance, and command. As for the b.f.: slumped-over, exhausted, submissive, soft and collapsed. What’s more to be said about him?

But what I found myself  focusing on was the placement of the woman’s right hand. Was she really rubbing and scratching the back of her man-boy’s head and neck? Yup, she really was. Here’s my reading of her gesture: She was stroking her b.f. as though calming, placating, soothing and controlling either a very young boy or a small, temperamental, and not very bright pet. She’s showing her man no more respect than she would a new purse. Maybe less, in fact: Hubby/b.f. as a lifestyle accessory.

In recent years I’ve witnessed many, many young women treating their men this way; and I’ve seen many, many young men accepting this kind of treatment — and, for all I know, even welcoming it.

It’s hard to convey how repulsive this looks to an old-timer, and by “old timer” I mean something like “any guy who did a little growing up before ’70s feminism.” I can assure readers that almost no man of my generation would allow himself to be treated like this by his woman. It can be mega-lovely to accept touching, stroking and attention from a lady-mate, god knows. But soothing is something that should happen in private, not public. And even when you do choose to accept some womanly warmth, affection and sympathy  — and if you aren’t going to get that from your woman, why are you bothering with her at all? — it’s something that you should never do submissively.

Were today’s young men never taught the meaning of the word “self-respect”?

Related

• Christina Hoff Sommers says that American schools have become hostile to boys.
• This woman got Gamed, and Gamed good. Link tks to Heartiste, whose Twitter stream is as provocative and entertaining as his blog.
• Is there nothing Vladimir Putin can’t do?
• “James! You’re hurting me!”
• RIP two great, and confidently masculine, old-school figures: Albert Murray and Elmore Leonard.
• UPDATE: Maclean’s, a Canadian newsmagazine, takes note of the Manosphere. Link tks to Will S.