Today, while driving to Safeway I had to wait for a young couple to cross the street. I was absolutely disgusted by what I saw.
The female’s hands were empty. Her apparently well trained boyfriend, however, was not so lucky. He held in his left hand, with no detectable hint of rancor, her small pink purse.
Alright, so let’s play devil’s advocate against myself first. Clearly, if he’s happy to hold her purse as a symbol of affection, who am I to judge? Why shouldn’t he hold her purse? Maybe he volunteered. Isn’t chivalry sweet? That’s where my generosity ends.
That poor guy… my first thought was, “Wow. Totally whipped.” Why humiliate your boyfriend like that? It wasn’t even a semi-respectable tote bag that he could pass off as his environmentally friendly shopping tool. It was full-on girly-pink purse that held little besides a wallet. The judgmental feminist in me wants to ask this female, “Did you injure your hands? Do you have some sort of physical defect that prevents you from carrying this small item? Are you actually carrying several loads of invisible groceries that I cannot see because of my nearsightedness and the glare from the setting sun?” There’s no reason not to carry your own damn bag and it’s the epitome of self-indulgent delusions of grandeur and selfishness to make your boyfriend look ridiculous just so you feel like he reaaaally cares.
I admit to having Mike help me carry things if my hands are full or if they’re too heavy, but I would never make him carry my purse if I had the ability to do so myself and I NEVER WILL. You see, there’s a difference between being helpful or sweet and enabling your girlfriend’s princess syndrome.