"man-" as a prefix
Oct. 24th, 2015 06:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormdogI have a feeling that, much like a "manpurse" vs. a purse, the only difference between a "manbun" and a bun (in the context of hairstyle) is the perceived gender of the person who is wearing it. Am I wrong?
I get a little annoyed at the use of the prefix man- applied to "feminine" things that a masculine man is doing or wearing. Not only does it feel like an excuse, but it's a completely irrational one. As though somehow proactively calling attention to the fact that something you're doing might be a trapping of femininity magically removes the taint. It's part of why I refer to my shoulder bag as a purse, not a satchel or a (and I shudder to write it) "manpurse". It has the same functionality, and the potential of being perceived as somehow feminine is *not that scary,* folks.
I get a little annoyed at the use of the prefix man- applied to "feminine" things that a masculine man is doing or wearing. Not only does it feel like an excuse, but it's a completely irrational one. As though somehow proactively calling attention to the fact that something you're doing might be a trapping of femininity magically removes the taint. It's part of why I refer to my shoulder bag as a purse, not a satchel or a (and I shudder to write it) "manpurse". It has the same functionality, and the potential of being perceived as somehow feminine is *not that scary,* folks.
