Ideas@TheCentre
Girlfriends or natural socialists?
Ever heard the tired old cliché about women always wanting a man they can change, and men always wanting a woman who will not?
Clichés are often lame but often carry some truth, which is why they exist.
All you men out there, remember this cliché when you receive Christmas presents from your beloved significant other. Also consider the following: does the Christmas present that your girlfriend got you reflect your tastes and preferences?
The truth is that it may not. It might not reflect the way you behave, the way you project yourself to society, or even the way you feel. But it might reflect how your wife or girlfriend wants you to be viewed or who, in fact, she wants you to be.
Maybe she will give you a hat to replace your old sweaty but personalised one. Perhaps a new wallet to supersede the daggy one that always embarrasses her. Maybe it’s a pair of new, longer shorts to replace your favourite university rugby stubbies.
The message is undeniable: A man is something that can, and should, be improved upon – by a mixture of carrot and stick, if necessary.
This is, coincidentally, the same view the nation’s politicians and bureaucrats seem to hold.
So much for the crooked timber of humanity! Our fairer companions are not always interested in that – some individualism is of course important, but remaking the man means turning him into a finely varnished piece of woodwork.
And that is why girlfriends have socialistic tendencies. It might begin with just a new wallet, a ban on stubbies, a haircut, or strong hints about personal hygiene, beer consumption and stomach size. But it signals a rejection of a man as his own fallen self and an attempt to ‘fix’ him and remake him anew.
Having said all that, you choose a girlfriend, she makes you a better person, and she improves your quality of life. The government does not necessarily do the same. The difference between governments and girlfriends is this: With the latter, it’s voluntary coercion. With the former, it’s just coercion.
Merry Christmas, and enjoy your presents from the fairer sex!
Luke Malpass is a Policy Analyst at The Centre for Independent Studies.
