My boyfriend is wonderful. And I'm very happy to say he has a great family too! I was at his house this summer and his mother told me about how she and her husband got their nails done together. I was really impressed with my boyfriend's dad as he flaunted his manicured hand. Not too many men would feel comfortable going to a salon.
What happened next was amazing.
His mother pulled out some coupons for the local nail parlor and offered to pay for my nails if I could get her son to get his done. My boyfriend is a nail bitter, so a manicure could do him some good. After some hesitation, well a lot of hesitation, he agreed. I went with a sparkly maroon and he went with a clear coat.
While we were getting our nails done we chatted with the workers. We discussed how few men go to get their nails done. The women were surprised at how little it is accepted for men to receive manicures and pedicures. After all getting your nails cleaned is relaxing, enjoyable and gives them a professional look.
Why is it breaking out of the male gender role to get cleaned hands and feet?
This is too cute! I am jealous because I asked my own boyfriend to get a pedicure with me as well. He laughed and admitted to going one time. He said before he went on vacation with his family and all of his family friends that he and his best three guy friends all decided to go together and get one (kind of a joke between them all). He loved it! Let's be honest, who doesn't like foot massages? When I asked him if we could go together on a date night, he laughed. I asked him what was the difference between going with the boys or your own girlfriend and his response was “I don't want to seem whipped, plus why don’t you go with one of your friends, that way you can talk about ‘girl stuff’. “ Is this typical for a boyfriend I thought? I thought yes until I read your comment. I think I might have to ask him one more time! To us (as woman) we don't see the big deal. But getting a mani and pedi is usally what women do and I guess the male gender think that it is too 'girlie' of a thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome! So cool that your boyfriend went with you. I think it takes a guy who is very confident in who he is to do that. There is so much gender policing when it comes to any hygiene rituals- so ridiculous. Sometimes it seems like the stinkier, the better' at least when it comes to masculinity.
ReplyDeleteMy younger brother always used to get mad when I would paint my sister's nails because he wanted his done. I did paint them, but with a clear coat. I wish I would have painted them whatever color he wanted because who cares! Nails are nails.
Your story is amazing. It just shows we are headed for a more gender neutral society. I think it is interesting that the hesitation of your boyfriend is completely socially constructed. I blogged about this topic as well - it is strange how fast the gender norms for hygiene are changing as of late. I've never had a manicure done, but I'm definitely not opposed to it - I just would never think of putting it on my "to do" list unless it was in conjunction with spending time with a girlfriend or something.
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