Men : Women = Men : Materialistic Possessions??

No, I haven’t started coaching for the SATs. This is a thought that occurred to me recently when I overheard a couple of college mates raving about a particular car (conversations all too commonly heard in Dubai, a vehicle fanatic’s haven). I am referring to the similarity in attitude that the typical male bears when dealing with his sexual counterpart, and the physical effects that give him pleasure.

Looking at it objectively, purely on the basis of observable phenomena, one can quantify this attitude into three factors:

1. Money : Money in the past and in rural areas till today plays a heavy role in deciding whether a woman is even worth matrimonial alliance or not. I’m referring of course, to the long drawn custom of Dowry. Although Dowry is not too much of an issue in the modern areas which we reside in, it doesn’t mean money has lost itself as a factor of this attitude with urbanization. It has in fact, evolved and hence earned connotations, perhaps most apparent through inheritance of fortunes held by prospective life-partners, and the existence of high class and low class prostitution. In the case of materialism, money has an obvious and all-powerful role.


2. Colour : Hey. If I’m going out to pick up a new mobile or a car, the colour is most definitely not going to be a non-issue. What is important to understand at this point is that I am trying to bring about a comparison in the criteria that most men would definitely consider before committing to an article of luxury, or a woman. All men, or for that matter, all women too have a certain image in mind of their ideal mate. By ideal, I certainly don’t mean to imply that the person is not going to budge from that image which he has in mind. But definitely, he or she would accept only that ‘someone’ who has the most desirable of those qualities. And in majority of the cases, colour fairly prepossesses those desired attributes, in most cases, subconciously. And this is not a fact I’ve conjured out of nowhere. I checked those figures (Bless the Internet), and in each case, be it among women or men, white with coloured matches always fell far below 50%. Anyway, in India at least, there is hardly any stress required to spell out this fact, or to prove it. The infamous ‘Fair and Lovely’ says it all…


3. Outward Appearance : Many would club colour under this, but by outward appearance, I mean the looks, so to say. An example being that a dark person can very much be just as beautiful, attractive or sexy as one with a fairer complexion. Take for instance, Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry (Die Another Day’s orange bikini, Catwoman’s oh-so-tight costume) or Denzel Washington. There…now you see it. No matter how much they say, “It’s what’s inside that matters”, hardly anyone would like to go for someone who’s a gem inside but a horror on the outside. There are the occasional exceptions, no doubt. But exceptions are always there aren’t they? It’s what the majority is that is taken into census. Most in fact, even end up compromising on what lies beneath for what’s on the surface. Certainly unwise…but so it is. And materialism, well, even if a Maruti 800 was as capable a car as a BMW, doubtful if anyone would go for it, especially if they had the money to afford a BM. All because of its…? You’re in a position enough to answer that now.

So, is it that the human mind is built to think only in this one track manner, be it when it is dealing with objects or with people? After reading all this, I’m quite sure some would agree. But there are cases in which all three criteria fail to fit. And I believe it is these cases who live lives liberated from the influence of mindless prejudices, influences and traditions. I don’t say I belong among those cases. Nor do I say it’s always a good thing to be them. But it isn’t bad either. So the next time you see a healthy, handsome chap walking with an arm linked to a native of the deepest hellhole, don’t jump to conclusions. Most probably the guy's hopelessly in love, or has been forced into the marriage. Otherwise, either the trotting terror has a diamond studded spoon in her mouth, or she is the Swan Queen masquerading under a mask of the Devil.

And now, upon finishing this post, I am confused on what I meant to imply in the first place. Oh well. Guess this is just one of those posts that is destined to be looked back upon as the fruit of unnecessary thought. :S