Why don't men dance as much as women?

[Sparkly]

I'm serious. Whether ballet, modern, or ballroom dance, why are there so few men involved?

Is it embarassing because it seems "feminine," and if so, why?

Is it just not interesting to men as it is to women, and if so, why not?

[crispini]

1. Because it takes a really really secure guy

to face the possibility that he might "look silly" and not care.

[GOPisEvil]

2. That's why alcohol helps.

:evilgrin:

[crispini]

10. I know a guy (at a traditional American dance group I go to)

who dances, cold stone sober, in a skirt. Not a kilt, a skirt, with big bright flowers on it.

Now that's balls.

[GOPisEvil]

15. If I were into traditional American dance, I'd do it.

But I'm not, so uh, no skirts on me. :)

[Sparkly]

5. Why don't women worry as much about looking silly?

:shrug:

[crispini]

7. I dunno....

maybe women, just by and large, are more used to having people looking at them? :shrug:

[WCGreen]

3. Oh I thought you meant out at a club

Like we never go dancing anymore...

Before we were married, you use to dance all the time....

Here's a secret.....

Passed down from generations of venerated fathers.....

Told to us over the Black and Decker emsamble.....

Once they say yes, you never have to dance again....

And there is rejoicing through out the land.....

[CTLawGuy]

4. I like to dance and I'm a man

some guys think it's weird, but I don't let that bother me.

[existentialist]

6. Some of us are clumsy oafs.

[Droopy]

8. I have no desire to dance

It's just not my idea of fun.

[SOteric]

9. Why don't men carry handbags?

If it's a matter of it seeming frilly or feminine, surely some clever designers could have created a more masculine equivalent in all these decades.

I mean think about it, the darn things are amazingly handy.

[GOPisEvil]

13. Men tend to have more pockets in which to carry things.

Maybe that's why? :shrug:

Although I really don't care for having lots of things in my pockets OR carrying something around. I tend to travel light for the most part.

[SOteric]

17. Nah, Cargo pants are non-gender specific.

And while I'm sure that you personally don't much care for packing things around with you, it is undeniably convenient for many others.

I'm just surprised it hasn't evolved yet into a non-gender specific thing, or that a masculine alternative hasn't come up.

[GOPisEvil]

18. Meh...cargo pants...

Honestly, there are times when I used to carry a messenger bag just to free up my hands. I would use one to go to and from work. If I just HAD to have more stuff with me at all times, I could see using one. Actually, amongst younger guys, it is more common to see them carrying messenger-type bags.

But I have heard the term "man-purse" used derisively.

[DS1]

19. They're called toolboxes

:D

[MissMillie]

29. *sigh* sadly true

the fashion industry would never dream of making a pair of men's pants that had no pockets... or a suit jacket that had no pockets. But they do this to women all the time.

[crispini]

14. My friend carries a tote bag; he calls it his "man-bag."

Works for him. :P

I, OTOH, refuse to carry a purse. Stupid things, always getting in the way when you want to dance.

[Sparkly]

22. My husb does!

A little Euro bag. He's unconcerned about what people think of him, to say the least.

[Stinky The Clown]

26. I'm a man. I carry a purse. All the time. For the past 20 years, at least

One of these:


It is about 6" x 8" x 3" thick. I don't use the shoulder strap, but I do use the little hand hold jobbie. I don't carry a wallet. I hate having a load of shit in my pants ..... pockets. I just keep change in one pocket and bills on a money clip in the other. Everything else is in the bag ... credit cards ... cell phone ... smokes ..... and pictures of my main squeeze, Sparkly.

These things are nothing but sensible. And I don't give a shit what anyone thinks of me. I know who I am and that's all that matters, no?

<on edit> ...... I dance, too. Ballroom.

[redqueen]

32. Right on!

re: the bag & ballroom dancing...

I love ballroom dancing. :)

[ghostsofgiants]

31. It's not a purse

It's a European carry-all!

[Patiod]

39. They're called "backpacks," "computer bags" & "briefcases"

I never see male commuters in Philadelphia without one of these items.

[short bus president]

40. I carry a violin case.

:P

[skygazer]

48. A lot of men do

They don't call them handbags, though. They call them briefcases or carry-ons or backpacks or "bags". I know plenty of guys who carry large, pocketed and zippered bags which they stuff with work stuff or papers or laptops or whatever.

[usedtobesick]

11. some of us are just Dorks

or can't get past the fear that we are but nobody knows our secret yet.

[sundog]

12. i dance every chance i get

like i give a fuck what people think... give me a good beat & i'm in heaven

[redqueen]

34. .

:hi:

[Union Thug]

16. Personally, it's because I suck..

and I'm embarrassed to suck in public...(that sounds bad!)

Now, back in the day, I could headbang and 'slam dance' (proto-mosh) with the best of 'em!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. It's an American thing

In many cultures, such as in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, dancing is considered almost a sport in which men can show off their strength.

It's the whole stupid macho American "real men limit themselves by never doing anything outside their comfort zone just in case they might make a mistake in public."

[tjdee]

45. This is true. My British friends dance.

All of them.

[Ivan Sputnik]

21. Some guys do like to dance

in private, anyway.

http://media.hugi.is/hahradi/fyndnar/everybodydance-1.wmv

[Xipe Totec]

23. I don't dance because my wife doesn't

I used to be quite the ballroom dancer in my younger days, but gave it up after I married because my spouse did not care for it.

[MercutioATC]

24. Because women (in general) are so much better at it.

It's REALLY hard for a woman to look bad while dancing.

[mcscajun]

25. Down in the Cajun Country...the men mostly don't dance until

they've consumed quite a few beers...the drunker they get, the more they dance.

:shrug:

I was out this afternoon at a Cajun-Polka Fest. Yeeee-HAH! A close friend that I kinda taught to dance Cajun style and I had a blast. He was drinking...but he doesn't need the help. He really enjoys it.

[Stinky The Clown]

27. I was on a business trip to New Orleans once when I danced with

two women at the same time. I was with a friend of mine and we were at this bar in the quarter listening to some authentic cajun stuff ... washboards and harmonicas and all. It was essentially swing music. One of the women asked me to dance and I agreed. The other woman expressed mock disappointment so I took her out with the other hand and danced them both. I've never done that before or since, but it was great fun!

Men who don't dance don't know what they're missing.

[mcscajun]

28. They certainly don't Know what they're missing...

...and the 'troika' dance is pretty common in Cajun dance communities for just that reaston...more women to dance than men.

[ihaveaquestion]

43. Men who dance get all the women the want

See my post #41 in this thread....

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[mcscajun]

49. Damn straight!

And yes...dancing is, at least MOST of the time, foreplay. :)

And even when it isn't, it's a HELLUVA LOT of FUN!

[Sparkly]

52. I can testify to that.

Husb swept me off my feet doin' the Rhumba. ;)

[Felix Mala]

30. You so seldom find an open bar...

[ghostsofgiants]

33. What about breakdancing?

You hear more about b-boys than you do b-girls.

[Lisa0825]

35. Dancing is a great way to win over a lady...

If men really had a clue at how sexy most women think good dancers are... *whew*... I'm starting my second salsa class soon, and we are almost even on male to female ratio. It's a great way to meet people too.

[ihaveaquestion]

41. I read once that most guys start dancing just to meet women....

and after a while they start to really like it.

For you guys out there who haven't heard this yet - I'm going to tell you a secret - dancing is probably the most reliable form of foreplay ever invented. This is absolutely true! Try it and see!

:party:

[Lisa0825]

42. You are absolutely right!!!

A great dancer can dance me right off my feet!!!:crazy: :loveya: :woohoo:

[mcscajun]

50. Your first statement is SO accurate.

A close friend of mine didn't, wouldn't, and couldn't dance 13 years ago. I cajoled him into joining me for lessons in Cajun dancing, and he's been at it ever since. He loves to dance now...and keeps pretty busy with all the ladies. We still dance together whenever we can, though. :)

[sniffa]

36. i Love to dance

especiaLLy when on the right substance. :yoiks:

[ihaveaquestion]

37. Did someone say dancing - I'm in !!!

I go swing dancing in Tampa 3-4 times a week. It's a great way to stay in shape. It's social. And it's FUN!!! We have a little "dance community" going here - all ages, all skill levels. Most folks don't smoke or drink much because it interferes with their dancing.

Just Get Up and Dance, Folks !!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[LissaM]

38. I took

a workshop/history of dance class in college, and it's amazing because a lot of ballet technique comes from Louis XIV era. Apparently, he loved ballet and wanted it as a more refined art. I know he hired out a bunch of male choreographers and there were very few women ballet dancers. I can't remember too much about the class, but I Do remember that a lot of ballet technique comes from that.

I don't know where it lost it's "masculinity" but I was once a dancer and have to say that male dancers are some of the strongest people I know.

[tjdee]

46. Exactly.

The muscle control alone is extraordinary.

Male dancers are hooottttt.

[tjdee]

44. Shah Rukh Khan dances, and he's the hottest man in the world.

Man, men dancers are hot as hell. It's so irritating this whole scene where you go to a club or whatever and the women are dancing and the men are watching them. UGH!!!

Hip hop clubs are different at least...more of the men seem to dance.

Fred Astaire: Hot.

Gene Kelly: Hot.

Shah Rukh Khan: Hot. :loveya:

That's on my man list: Must dance at least some of the time. You don't even have to dance *well*. Just move, sometimes!

[Lisa0825]

51. If a man's a good dancer and a good kisser.....

you can bet he's good at the rest! :loveya:

[leftofthedial]

47. we weigh more

so alcohol affects us less