88 June 2014 www.womanthismonth.com she says A Few Good Men by BEHNAZ SANJANA Here’s a bystander’s view on the first world equation between men and women. Let’s be honest. We snigger when we read jokes on men, rolling our eyes and thinking: “So true!” Like the one that goes: “Men are like government bonds. They take forever to mature.” Well, you get the picture. In this era of women’s empowerment and rights and liberation, I sometimes feel that maybe the men have had the raw end of the deal. I’m not talking about the tyrannical ones who make their womenfolk walk two steps behind them. I’m referring to those who hold doors open for you, let you speak first and offer to foot the bill. But, as it stands, we ladies are an undecided lot. We accuse them of being chauvinist and then complain that chivalry has gone out the door. In this male-bashing world of feminism, we know that a world without men wouldn’t be as much fun. Come on, who’d make us laugh in spite of ourselves when we’re mad as hell. And besides, a woman needs a man because she cannot blame everything that goes wrong in her life on her destiny. I’d say we are the luckier gender. We can succinctly sum up a man in a couple of pages and give an unambiguous bottom line. After all, men are simple beings who can get through a weekend with a pair of boxers, a favourite beverage and batteries for the remotes. On the other hand, books have been written and movies have been made, but our male counterparts flounder about trying to understand us and what we want. Most men today are educated, perceptive guys who respect, appreciate and at least attempt to comprehend women. Noted novelist and Nobel Prize laureate William Golding thought that women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men; they are far superior and always have been. If you have a loving, loyal man who thinks on the same lines (and helps out at home, runs errands and genuinely compliments you), then overlook the beerbelly and hang on to him ladies! Go the extra mile to make him feel cherished and doted on. Lord knows men love some limelight, as much as they’d disagree to the fact. We tend to exclude men from the whole picture, taking charge of all family affairs, making him a filler, who brings in the cash to keep everyone happy and well fed. If your man has a way with children, give him half a chance to get involved. Of course he’s going to get it wrong the first time, but a little patience goes a long way in cementing the father-child bond. And think of it, you’ll even get some extra time to dry your nails!
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