There is a highly over-looked, gender specific, social norm that I protest with a gusto, even though to call it minuscule is an understatement (you have to start somewhere).
It's all this gosh-dang, "Darling Husband" bullshit. When women refer to their husbands in blogs, posts, or anywhere else as "The DH" I quit reading. I don't care if I am reading a highly coveted article about how to build Frosty the Snowman so that he actually dances around the yard entertaining my children for hours before ushering them through a dangerous intersection and breaking their hearts when the weather turns warm,—making them sun-hating recluses for the rest of their lives—if during the tutorial the writer refers to a "DH"—I BOUNCE (and contemplate running through a busy intersection myself).
When I said "DH" to my husband he thought it stood for "designated hitter" and I almost fell off the porch swing, laughing.
The problem is that, although the "D" stands for "darling,"—and therefore attempts to be a positive attribute—"DH" has the same dehumanizing qualities as the other commonly used, impersonal, spousal spewings, like "The Old Lady," and "Ball and Chain." Thus, making "DH" nauseatingly passive aggressive. The "darling" makes it sugary sweet and innocently ignorant to the fact that it is utterly degrading. Hack. Vomit. Spew.
Also--and this really ought to be pointed out--this DH BS is deathly prosaic. Grow just one creative bone in those bodies ladies! Give your LH (the alternate and equally disturbing, "Loving Husband") a nickname all his own. Who cares if one year down the road strangers are only beginning to read your blog and aren't yet privy to the background information. It won't take them long to figure out who "ButterBalls," "PapaBear," or "StripSteak" is. Trust me.
Not to mention(though I am mentioning it now), you won't even have to give up your imaginary girl power points. You can still make yourself look just as stupid with sexist generalizations like, "you know men," and "boys will be boys," contributing to the already ridiculous idea that behavior is predetermined by genitals, without completely eliminating the spunk and creativity of a genuine crest of affection. Now, doesn't that sound nice?
Okay. So, I'll go first. From now on, I will refer to CopperPot with a nickname all his own. In fact, I may change it in every blog that I talk about ole' CopperPot, just to prove that it is completely possible. If you get confused, I'm not sorry. Remember, you are only one in a very few that I don't give two shits about. ;) And I do hope you have a blissfully lovely day!
XO!
I never knew this was a trend--probably not reading the right blogs/articles--but now that I do, I feel ill. It makes me think back to Lady and the Tramp (hey, look! boring, generic, gendered names!) where the humans, who are supposed to be this lovely little couple, are known only as Darling and Dear. *puke*
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