Kitten

Yup.

Because real men are first and foremost, real, complete, human beings. As are real women. That has to be inclusive and accepting and loving and kind and strong and brave and all that our species has to offer. First. Gender can get layered on, if necessary, after. Real has to mean full and complete, not just a fashionable symptom.

A real man will love itty bitty kittens as well as scary looking (sweetheart) rottweilers, on the basis of kindness to all creatures. A real man will play dolls with his daughter as well as catch with his son. Or dolls with his son and catch with a daughter, if called on to do so. A real man will not conform to negative stereotypes.

The people I've met who are most concerned with their manliness have had such glaring lapses in their humanity, it's hard to see how they think they are good men. For women, it seems a more complicated process, although the women (who often refer to themselves as 'girls') who seem to have an issue with gender image, are so thoroughly screwed up the question isn't even in the queue. Have not heard "tomboy" said as a genuine insult since I was a small one myself.

So, why the current push to be the gender one is already? I mean, aside from marketing? Or maybe that's all there is to it.


Moby purrs beside me.

It's very hot.


Partly Cloudy
101°F
38°C
Humidity11%
Wind SpeedNW 13 G 18 mph
Barometer30.03 in (1009.8 mb)
Dewpoint37°F (3°C)
Visibility10.00 mi
Heat Index 96°F (36°C)