Hair Raising Detail

     Well if you are either a cave dweller (or occupy a much less technologically driven lifestyle than I do) and haven't seen the Facebook posts, e-cards, calendar reminders,text messages, etc., today marks the beginning of " No-Shave November". A tradition where for this entire month there is a "no razors allowed policy.  Pretty self explanatory really. If you have the ability to do so and your place of employment has yet to implement a "clean appearance" policy(cough, Yankees, cough), here is your chance to scruff it up and wear it proud. However, this did get me thinking about all the many, many activities Men can do openly and proudly (also, requiring much less effort) than women can. (Disclaimer: maybe this isn't one for the kiddies to read...up to you).

    For beginning, let's start with an obvious example(also,fitting for today), shaving. If you're of the male persuasion, it's not only easy, it's literally effortless. "Don't spend five extra minutes every morning grooming and share a comradery of hairy glory with every able man/boy I meet on the street?Deal,  I feel like a Viking!" On the opposite side of the Gender table though, here we women sit. Do we participate? Not only is it equally as painless for us as for our counterparts (more so if you factor in the sheer surface size difference between the two), the time saved in our morning routine alone is game changing! Plus, we could also share the bond and compare each others progress(or not, I don't know your life). But there is obviously the intimacy problem where the fairness factor comes into play. Not only can a mans scruff or buxom beard is viewed as a symbol of his manhood, it's also sexy(unless its not, again I don't know your life). Traditionally though, the same can't be said for a female for obvious reasons. One being that its not 1970 anymore and two, our clothes can be far less forgiving in the concealment aspect(not during winter temperatures though, just saying).

   Which brings me to another process that's just easier for males, temperature control. If you're hot, just start removing items from your upper body at whatever pace needed to maintain an ideal climate. Want to go swimming in a creek to cool down, take it off! Mowing the lawn and your tank top is suddenly suffocating, strip!  Simple. Again, not the same for a female though. This has to be one that I can't argue enough the importance of. That's right, I agree. Sorry if our viewpoints vary on the topic and yes,I am often guilty of sporting the short shorts(it's hard not to when your eight feet tall and yes, they are personally preferred over their knee length partners). But, there is nothing more awkward than coming face to face with an area better left to a "private" eye if you know what I mean(true story, Wave Pool 2003). Keep it classy Carbon County. 

    While this list could go on for days and I'm sure debates could be made to the contrary, the truth stands that men (maybe not all men, I'm looking at you metrosexuals) enjoy a much easier lifestyle for the basic behaviors.  We haven't even mentioned peeing in the great outdoors when you're a woman(not even close to debatable) or how different eating a corn dog/popsicle/drinking a bottle beer, etc. is for us. Proceed with caution!  I do have to say though, that while  "No-shave November" may not mean the same outcome for us (especially for the non-single among us), we without a doubt enjoy a long list of our own gender based perks. There's the simpleness of receiving free drinks, being able to order a fruity one with the judgmental stares, getting out of speeding tickets(I failed this test of femininity), no fear of asking directions(we're proud of finding our destinations flawlessly) and wearing be-dazzled tight pants is not only expected, its complimented. Yes, when you factor in the fringe benefits of being female, the gender gap closes faster than you can say "nice beard".