MelanieC
Well-known
Here is how I read this post, inelegantly and somewhat offensively as it was composed (including the title, which almost made me not click):
Activities and interests traditionally pursued by women tend to be devalued. These may include interests in such stereotypically "female" items related to things like fashion or beauty, or even specific items. (Witness: it's OK if it's a "camera bag," but not if it's a "purse.") In fact, the very term "housewife" is commonly taken as pejorative when it should really just be descriptive. Things that women like (or are thought to like) tend to be considered frivolous, like soap operas, romance novels (the "male" version might be Tom Clancy type books, which might be considered mass market but are rarely considered "silly"), "frocks," or hair care products.
What Magnus is pointing out here is that rangefinder users (mostly men) are just as "silly" about their various obsesssions as "housewives" are [thought to be] about theirs. This is something I also noticed when I started reading RFF. At one point in my life I frequented Usenet, and often read a group called "alt.fashion." The posters to alt.fashion are primarily (although by no means exclusively) female, and discussions include things like "What are you wearing today?" (= "What camera strap are you using/what camera are you carrying this weekend") or "What product to use for windblown hair? (= "What film/developer/whatever...") or "What are your current makeup obsessions?" (= "What gear are you coveting at the moment?") or "What I bought today" (= "What are you waiting for in the mail/what came in the mail?).
I would guess that (although I cannot assume) a majority of the men who read RFF consider things like shoes, handbags, dresses, or health and beauty aids to be frivolous. I would also guess (although I would not assume) that the primary reason for this opinion is that these are items traditionally associated with women. I think that what Magnus is pointing out is that our cameras, cases, straps, and other gear are essentially equivalent to lipstick, and that guys with cameras are not any different from gals with a new pair of high heels.
Activities and interests traditionally pursued by women tend to be devalued. These may include interests in such stereotypically "female" items related to things like fashion or beauty, or even specific items. (Witness: it's OK if it's a "camera bag," but not if it's a "purse.") In fact, the very term "housewife" is commonly taken as pejorative when it should really just be descriptive. Things that women like (or are thought to like) tend to be considered frivolous, like soap operas, romance novels (the "male" version might be Tom Clancy type books, which might be considered mass market but are rarely considered "silly"), "frocks," or hair care products.
What Magnus is pointing out here is that rangefinder users (mostly men) are just as "silly" about their various obsesssions as "housewives" are [thought to be] about theirs. This is something I also noticed when I started reading RFF. At one point in my life I frequented Usenet, and often read a group called "alt.fashion." The posters to alt.fashion are primarily (although by no means exclusively) female, and discussions include things like "What are you wearing today?" (= "What camera strap are you using/what camera are you carrying this weekend") or "What product to use for windblown hair? (= "What film/developer/whatever...") or "What are your current makeup obsessions?" (= "What gear are you coveting at the moment?") or "What I bought today" (= "What are you waiting for in the mail/what came in the mail?).
I would guess that (although I cannot assume) a majority of the men who read RFF consider things like shoes, handbags, dresses, or health and beauty aids to be frivolous. I would also guess (although I would not assume) that the primary reason for this opinion is that these are items traditionally associated with women. I think that what Magnus is pointing out is that our cameras, cases, straps, and other gear are essentially equivalent to lipstick, and that guys with cameras are not any different from gals with a new pair of high heels.
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