Guess what? Someone told me that they liked the way I write, so at this point me and my guilt reached a hurting stalemate (this is a cool term I learned in my Negotiations class) and something had to be done. Namely, this post had to be written.
For people who mess around with journalism and blogging (that would be me), there is a mantra that is hopelessly stuck in our heads: “Sex sells”. Well, let us take an easier take on it and finally stick to a resolution that I’ve already made about a thousand times: it is time to say everything I think about Swedish men. On second thought, it’s not like I have several dates every week, so maybe I should keep it neutral?
Either way, to sum up my wonderful frustration/fascination with the Vikings, I am just going to say that the gender roles in this country are very, very messed up. I am not going to go into the history of equal rights and the sexual revolution and such, I am just going to refer to the World Map of Masculinity by Hofstede. Hello, dear Vikings, you’ve got the lowest score on masculinity in the world! I mean, I do adore how you care for your babies; it’s just that I cannot understand how you ever get to that point (given your dating skills brilliantly described by a fellow blogger here). Maybe it is that Swedish women became so emancipated that they force men into matrimony and “pappaledighet” (paternity leave)? When I work out in the gym, that is certainly the impression I get: the girls are tough (sometimes even tougher than the guys…). And beautiful. Well, men are also very attractive. Unless they have more gel in their hair than I’ve used in my whole life and wear skinny jeans. Major no, guys!
Read the rest of this entry »