He writes:
I observed many dozens of guys wearing shorts outside in Minnesota, Michigan and Washington, D.C. even when the temperatures have been in the 20s, 30s or 40s.He suggests that it might be "retarded fashion". But, in comparison to the few man I have seen, in say, NYC in the winter wearing shorts, I'm sure the number of women wearing skirts is ten times as great. Why no mention of these women?
The only point I am trying to make here is that there are some things so socially ingrained that if you think about them for more than a minute, the logic is really different from the initial reaction.
I have, myself, on occassion seen some guy walking in NYC in pretty severe cold and thinking to myself, "What's up with that dude?" But, if I see some girl in the cold in a skirt, it doesn't seem out of order at all.
Some may argue that no one wants to look at a guys legs, very true, but the argument that Perry is making is that it is cold and a guys legs should be covered for that reason.
So Mark, what's up? Is it okay for women to walk around in skirts in the winter, but men should protect their legs from the cold?
dudes wondering about guys in shorts in the econ blogosphere might be just a little retarded.
ReplyDeleteIf you think about it in terms of practicality, kilts are best for men as they allow a certain freedom for the male equipment. But shorts combine the worst aspects of pants with the worst aspects of kilts, with the added disadvantage of making American men look like overgrown five-year-olds.
ReplyDeleteThe women I know only wear dresses in winter if they have to dress up, and they also have pantyhose, so it isn't quite the same thing.
Caroline is on to something....
ReplyDeleteBut staying with the topic ... I noticed a weather (if not climate) related thing when I worked at the university.
The nerds tended to dress sensibly, the heroes wore jams and undershirts pretty much year around.
When the temperatures crossed 40 on the way down for the winter, the dollies started wearing all the clothes they owned or could borrow.
When the temperatures crossed 30 on the way up in the spring, they shed all the clothes they thought they could get away with.
Flip-flops were de rigueur all the time.
I'm pretty sure most women and some guys would take pleasure in nicely shaped legs. Of course, not in shorts. Bermudas or speedos, maybe.
ReplyDeleteIf all things needed to be equal for the men-shorts, women-skirts comparison, then the gents would need some nylons.
ReplyDeleteI solemnly swear that panty hose/nylons do NOT make a bit of difference when it is truly cold.
ReplyDelete