I have sons. Seeing them grow up, mature, take responsibility for their lives quiets the rants I may have had in the past. Neither gender has it easy, and I think that deep down inside, every one man or woman has wants, needs, abilities, questions, and is just trying to make sense of it all.

My underwear wouldn't cost three times as much for a fraction of the fabric than those of a man's.

You lost me at the clothing sizes. The men tried to regularize it in the US. It used to be that my tall guys could rely on being able to wear Hanes T's. Since the size conformity, they have to wear floppy too big T's because even the extra longs aren't proportioned right. I liked being able to find a manufacturer that had a fit model shaped more like me, and a different one that fit more like my mother, and a third that best fit my friend. I'm the luckiest, but I really should do more alterations. If I don't get around to it, I go about in floppy clothes too.

In your opening premise there's an important point. When men I work with look baffled about why their wives aren't happy with their efforts and consequently with them, I explain that one of the most romantic things a man can do is clean and tidy the bathroom to her standards. Not just to done, but to the way she likes it, with the towels folded in thirds and lined up at the bottom, the floor spotless and shiny, everything smelling clean, the toiletries put in their places, or whatever it is she wants. All those little touches beyond clean room, clean towels and random junk picked up that make it nice. They look at me like I'm cracked. Then they come back, having tried it, and still don't understand, but for most of them, it works. :)

Re:Clothing sizes
Sorry, but I can't go to brick and mortar stores to shop/be able to try on clothes, so I have to shop online. I needed a new pair of "dress pants". Ordered a size 12 - way too small. Yeah, I'm thinking diet plans, longer bike rides, etc. I sent those back and they shipped me a size 14, same brand. Way too big. I gave up.

Ended up finding and ordering a men's style 30 x 31 (that's the size!) that is nicer fabric and really close to the style I wanted. At half the price. And about one tenth of the aggravation. <shrug>

Men would not walk a mile in high heels. They'd find a place to bury those, and when asked, "What happened to the shoes?", they reply, "I dunna know - I lost them, I guess."

LOL jemdandy, I totally agree. Our local women's shelter hosts the annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser, where men raise money by walking a mile in a pair of high heels. You should see the looks of anguish on the faces of some when that walk is over! The fantastic thing is, you see the same guys come out every year to endure that pain to raise awareness and money for abused women, here and across the province.

I don't think we can blame clothing size or shoe design solely (no pun intended) on men. There are a lot of female designers out there as well.

I feel sad when I see women with their toes jammed down into the hole at the front end of a shoe, with the heel about 4 inches in the air ...

... must've been a high-nosed heel that designed the dang thing!

o j

I do too Joyfulguy! I used to abuse my poor feet, then I grew up and got 'sensible' shoes.