Taking The War Between The Sexes Up A Notch

April 22, 2003 6:49 AM

Don't Worry Darling, I'll Protect You: Are men really braver and less frightened by life and stuff than women? Can Woody Allen and 14 million Jews be wrong? Not to mention the Cosa Nostra back in Sicily. Or my Mummy! Or are men less intelligent? Bigger show-offs? Or just lazy, insensitive buggers perhaps? An amusing article in The Washington Monthly by Garance Franke-Ruta - a woman, if you must know - delightfully recasts the age-old "Me Tarzan, You Jane" debate.
posted by MiguelCardoso (14 comments total)

Pay the rent.
I can't pay the rent!
Pay the rent.
I can't pay the rent!
I'll pay the rent!
My hero!
posted by KnitWit at 7:00 AM on April 22, 2003

He mentions that there were two attacks on DC. I also live in the cheerfully named "death zone" 2 blocks from the Whitehouse and I only remember one terrorist attack in the past four years. Besides 9/11 what could he mean? The sniper? Did I miss something?
posted by Alison at 7:12 AM on April 22, 2003

Besides 9/11 what could he mean?
are you kidding?!?! there was the infamous terrorist attack against logic, reason, and reality that occurred on inauguration day.
posted by quonsar at 7:21 AM on April 22, 2003

Pathetic op-ed piece. The only reason I'd have read this crap is because some MeFi posted it.

Neither my wife nor I rushed out for plastic and duct tape. It had absolutely nothing to do with the "war o' the sexes" - it just smacks too much of the "duck & cover" routine. I just don't see this characterization in my wife, or in the women with whom I work, or my female friends.
posted by FormlessOne at 7:36 AM on April 22, 2003

Well, my husband has bought up a few weeks' worth of rations (entrees and side dishes from MREs), some biochem suits, a couple gas masks, ponchos that turn into tents, huge rolls of plastic sheeting (I thought it was for painting) and I'm sure more stuff he's packed away where I can't get at it. He tries to get me to read survival manuals by a guy called "Ranger Rick" (ummm, I remember a raccoon) so I can identify edible plants, just in case I have to live off the land. I don't know of =any= woman who has done this...of course, we had already started amassing this stuff well before 2001. So I guess most of the guys doing this kind of stuff were Western militiamen hunkering down for Y2K.

Me? I work in Midtown Manhattan. I figure if a nuclear bomb hits/chemical attack occurs, I'll be dead or on my way to that state. I don't see the point in preparing for such stuff. Perhaps females are more likely to make half-assed emergency preparations, just to feel better?

However, should there ever be a massive hurricane or tornado here, we're ready. I think we need to get a hand-crank radio, but other than that, we're good to go. I just don't want to be quizzed on how to eat pinecones.
posted by meep at 7:43 AM on April 22, 2003

Blech. She manages to set the sexes in oppostion and then stereotype both of them negatively. It's an acheivement, but it's certainly not delightful.

I do so hate it when you squander a whole day's post, Miguel.
posted by hippugeek at 7:48 AM on April 22, 2003

Pointless characterizations of female behavior vs. male behavior is for people who have trouble figuring out how to behave, period. Huge gender stereotypes are very useful, I would imagine, for those of us who have little imagination or who need environmental cues on how to act in life's little theater. Beats thinking for yourself, that's for sure.
posted by ariana at 7:54 AM on April 22, 2003

meep: You haven't lived until you've had almond pinecones. They're really fantastic, especially if you use almonds instead of pinecones.

ariana: When it comes to first comments, that's the best one I've seen so far. Here's hoping you keep on rockin' and rollin' here.
posted by Ljubljana at 8:33 AM on April 22, 2003

I refuse to do any of this dumbass 1950's duct tape, c-rations nonsense. If the attack happens, I shall repair to my roof with a bottle of tequila and watch the fireworks. I may even treat myself to a cigarette, cos you know, what the hell...
posted by jonmc at 8:44 AM on April 22, 2003

jonmc: did you mean 'retire'?

In any event, I'm just shocked anyone took that duct-tape crap seriously. Tom Ridge is an idiot.
posted by delmoi at 8:50 AM on April 22, 2003

just for the record, 'repair' is an acceptable substitute for 'retire' in that kind of phrase. Although in this particular circumstance either option takes on a deeper meaning...
posted by soyjoy at 9:25 AM on April 22, 2003

Well.
One of the things y'all englightened mefites seem to be ignoring is the fact that she brings up actual numbers. I know, I know: lies, damned lies &c. &c. Nonetheless, can anyone actually speak to her apparently supported belief that women are more anxious and whatnot?
posted by kavasa at 10:33 AM on April 22, 2003

Bah! Numbers can be made to mean anything, can't they? All numbers do is tell how many people did something and who they were; what numbers don't tell is the reason why they did whatever it is they are being counted for, which in my opinion is much more important than the who's and the what's.
posted by ashbury at 10:48 AM on April 22, 2003

"Can Woody Allen and 14 million Jews be wrong?"

Because all Jews are Woody Allen stereotypes, right Miguel?

Twit.
posted by fraying at 1:03 PM on April 22, 2003