You gotta hand it to those ForbesWomen. They never stop asking : Why?
Such as “Why can’t I have a career and a Co-Equal Partner?”, “Why aren’t women, who are 50% of the workforce, be at least 50% of corporate boards?”, “Why Aren’t There More Women in Tech?”, and the ultimate “Why can’t employers provide better Work/Life Balance?”. These questions are usually followed by a flourish of “until society makes massive changes in its gender structure women will continue to be suffer unfair…”. It’s this kind of inquisitiveness and search for solutions that drives the culture forward and stokes the engines of innovation and job creation.
For the male reader however, it can be disorienting. As R.Don Steele advises men in his seminal classic “How to Date Young Women for Men Over 35, Volumes I and II” : Don’t answer “Why” questions. You may not have verbalized this concept but most likely have experienced some female demanding “Why?” to some unanswerable question. It’s a way to put you on the defensive while demanding that you explain yourself. If you comply to their demand you enter the passive apologetic beta zone from which you will not likely emerge. Just a tip from the Elmer Files.
Let’s talk about what’s in today’s ForbesWoman :
I Hate My Teenage Daughter: Comedy at the Expense of Women and Girls
Sabrina writes :
The moms are portrayed as the dumbest, most insecure, petty, women. They are terrible parents, and even worse, incompetent women. They apparently can’t dress themselves (in the first few minutes of the pilot one of the moms is unaware she is wearing a pajama top to work), and certainly can’t parent or even support themselves. The teenage daughters are also dumb, dress like sluts, and don’t do anything but be mean to other kids, skip school, and plot how to be horrible to their mothers.
She asks, Why?
By why is there not more of an outcry from women to get this show that demeans women and girls off the air? Why are advertisers so concerned about whether they advertise on a reality show about Muslim Americans (that actually tries to depict the experiences that Muslim Americans have every day here in the US) but not one word about advertising on this horrendous show that depicts women as stupid, silly creatures?
Elmer drops his guard and tries to help her understand :
Why, why, why? ForbesWomen ast : Why?
I tell you why.
This show is of women, by women, for women.
It’s women exploiting women.
Get used to it.
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Elmer asks : Why?
I am not above asking, “Why?”.
Such as “Why do all the massage ads only show the young babe getting a massage. Why don’t they ever show the middle-aged dude getting a rubdown?”
Of course, long time Spearhead readers know the answer; just another opportunity for Elmer to slip in his famous Elmer Massage photo. But this time with a funny twist. Of course the “massage” sign grabbed my attention as I hurtled past the strip mall while commuting to the ForbesWomen office. Did it really say that or was I filling in the blank with my own puerile thoughts? I went back for a second look. It really does say “Massage My Jewels”!
And I’m askin : Why Not?
