F*@% you and your lame virtue signaling, Gillette!

Okay, I know it's been a realllllllly long time since I've posted on this blog.  I started it with the best of intentions but soon realized that I don't really have a lot of free time to maintain it.  However, I'm trying to fit time in this year to devote to one of my favorite hobbies, writing (or ranting).  :)

So, now to get to the point.  Gillette recently released an online ad that basically blasts men for their toxic masculinity.  I'm assuming they aren't complete idiots and didn't intend to imply that all men are toxic by the simple fact that they are men, but that's how it came off to a lot of people, including me.

I'm really getting sick of this toxic masculinity BS.  I would not be where I am now without the love, support and assistance of many men.  The photo I've chosen for this post is of the five most important men in my life at the moment.  All of them are strong and masculine (which is quite attractive to the opposite sex if you aren't on the "weak men are sexy" bandwagon), and not one of them is toxic.

One of them is my wonderful husband, who has always been by my side and in my corner as I have pursued a sometimes demanding career.  He was the one who picked the kids up from school most of the time, shuttled them to their various activities, got dinner for them and made sure their needs were attended to while I worked late most of my career.  He was one of a handful of dads who watched almost every dance competition or performance his kids ever participated in, not just the sporting events.  He was the one that worked hard at jobs he didn't always love (sometimes more than one at a time) to help provide for his young family.  And he was the one who modeled the behavior of a devoted husband and father for the youngest man in the photo (not to mention that dashing young man's beautiful sisters).  OMG!  What a toxic misogynist, right?

One of them is the aforementioned young man, our awesome son, who is one of the kindest men you will ever meet.  Likely because he was raised with an excellent father who treated his wife and daughters with respect, he is respectful of and knows how to treat women.  When he was just a little boy, he was constantly complimenting his sisters and me on our shoes or our blouses because he understood that those were the things that made us feel good.  And if I ever need his help with anything, he does what is asked of him without complaining, even when I know he doesn't really want to do it.  He does it because he is respectful and caring.  Oh, the sexism!

The other three young men are our "bonus kids."  They are all incredibly special as they have been entrusted with the most precious gifts they will ever receive: the hearts of our amazing daughters.  Because of the way our girls were raised and the confidence and good judgment that came from that, they have all chosen great men to share their lives with.  Their relationships are partnerships and they make decisions together.  These young men are working very hard to ensure that the household financial needs are met while they build their lives together.  How very chauvinistic!

In addition to my VIPs in the photo, I am blessed to have had wonderful, masculine men in my life from a very young age and I know a lot more that I've met along the way.  This is my tribute to ALL of them.  I love me some manly men, and I appreciate all that they bring to the lives of those they love.  We need more, not fewer, men like them.  If Gillette and the vocal minority of man-haters out there don't approve, they can suck it!!!  (How's that for some toxic femininity?  Equality, Baby!!!)