To wonder why male things are always better?

[Bumpitybumper]

Has anyone else noticed things typically associated with men are considered to be better? Examples I've noticed:

Trivial
Names - baby girls being given male names is considered cool and trendy (James, Noah etc) but this seems to seldom work in reverse.
Colours - pink is often rejected even for girls because it's too 'girly' but blue is acceptable for both sexes.

Non-trivial
Professions - women are encouraged to enter typically make dominated STEM industries but little is done to address the appalling pay, conditions and underappreciation of female denominated sectors such as teaching, caring etc
Childcare - the onus seems to be on getting more women into FT work rather than spending time at home to raise their children. Tax system and free childcare entitlements designed to encourage this rather than to incentivise men AND women to be SAHPs.

There are loads of other things I've noticed too.

AIBU to be deeply cynical about why the traditionally male approach is always seen to be superior and to worry that this isn't the best way to achieve equality?

And "unisex" always means default male.

Just to warn you, you are probably going to get lambasted. But I agree with you.

Sexism, basically. Things associated with women are devalued. It's not really acceptable but its hard to change attitudes. A girl posted on here a while ago about her partner wanting to be a midwife and from some of the responses on here you would think he had tattooed 'I'm a pervert who wants to look at fannies' on his forehead. See also mistrust for male nannies and nursery nurses. It's depressing!

My ds has a name which is generally thought of as being a girls name. Most people tell me they think it’s cool. They might just be being polite though!

I bet it's Jesse!

It's because a girl acting like a boy is a glorious promotion for her whereas a boy acting like a girl is a humiliating demotion for him.

So yes sexism.

No not Jesse. Although that’s another cool boys name. Unless you live in Scotland. Jesse Spencer is a lovely thing.

Bertrand Yes, I've noticed 'unisex' is a euphemism for male things without a plain design.

I'm expecting a lot of resistance as I think we have all been so indoctrinated to believe male things are the best that it's hard not to think that these things should just be the default we all aspire to rather than question WHY we think that way.

I do agree with you though btw op. I’m just being the pain in the arse But What Abouter.

Men's clothes in supermarket ranges tend to be better made than women's ranges.

• with a plain design

The reason isn't a secret. It's plainly rooted in sexism and misogyny.

I think it worries me as this trend is viewed as progressive when in fact it sets women back massively.

Trivial - Baby names - I have a 'boys' name (bane of my life, boys registers at school, have always had to spell it for people, letters always addressed to Mr, have to explain that I am that person when random phone calls ask to speak to Mr, have to same I am, have the 'that's a boy's/mans name how do you spell it response....on and on....!) - but more common and confusing names about now so not alone!

But I named my new DD one of the most popular girls names of last year - just because I think its a beautiful name and don't really care if its popular or not - but now I've got the backlash of the 'they'll be ten on her (name) in her class at school'....

I think in this whole era of gender equality people are forgetting that sometimes its beautiful just to be a girl and do girlie things and equally beautiful just to be a boy and do boy (ish?) things.....its also ok to mix that up a bit if they want to - I'm a girl who wanted a remote control car and a GI joe for Xmas - best pressies

Non-Trivial

You don't have to enforce who people are - you just need to encourage your children to find out who they want to be and teach them to have confidence to be it -

*It's because a girl acting like a boy is a glorious promotion for her whereas a boy acting like a girl is a humiliating demotion for him.

So yes sexism.*

Yeah unfortunately that's about the size of it, no matter what anyone says

YANBU
has anyone ever heard of 'practical' shoes for men???
of course not because all men's shoes are practical.

My niece was left stranded at an airport once because the person meeting her didn't realise that "Dr Sam Bertrandsniece" could be a woman........

The first (boy names being cooler) I have never heard of.

I don't have an opinion on fashion, but you are probably right about that.

Teaching is underappreciated. Perhaps because it is female dominated.

I disagree on the childcare front. I think encouraging one parent to be a SAHP is a bit of a disaster, both for the state and the parent.

has anyone ever heard of 'practical' shoes for men???
of course not because all men's shoes are practical.

so true

clothes I love mens clothes.i want a snuggly hoodie anyday over the "must be fitted designed" womans ones.also with cargo pants.some t-shirts.fit so much better with mens.womans always seem to want to put some ribbed or fitted seams into it to make more feminine

Ah, but their hair dye is shite.

It's a man's world.

It's gonna take another 1000 years for men to grow out of assuming that male stuff is just better.

marchin1984
I disagree on the childcare front. I think encouraging one parent to be a SAHP is a bit of a disaster, both for the state and the parent.
Ok, I accept SAH is controversial, but just generally working more and seeing kids less seems to be the ethos they're pushing.

I'll add 'boyfriend jeans' into that - wonder if 'skinny jeans' were labelled as 'girlfriend trousers' they'd be as popular....

It's gonna take another 1000 years for men to grow out of assuming that male stuff is just better.

I reckon humans will be extinct in 1000 years so never