FEMINIZATION OF AMERICA?

There's a lot of talk these days about the feminization of America. More specifically, of the American male. Historians tell us this comes from the closing of the Old West...sociologists explain there are role reversals happening...movie critics analyze it as nice-guy-hunks Tom Hanks and Jude Law replacing tough-guy-hunks John Wayne and Charles Bronson in the hearts of women.

Much of it comes down to the sensitivity quotient. In our less primitive more sophisticated environment, women look more for men who can understand as well as protect. Lets face it, Wayne and Bronson are not the tea & sympathy kind. Tony Bennett doesn't call women broads like Frank Sinatra. And the female of the species is considerably more interested in what Oprah and Ellen have to say than what the NASCAR and rodeo gang have to offer.

If true, this leaves today's young male three basic options. First, read up on manners, and study how the gentlemen exquisitely execute them on Masterpiece Theatre. Or second, he can look for women who love NASCAR races and rodeos. Or third, he can let his beard grow scraggly, join an all-male country club, and explore the joys of rugged celibacy.

Actually, he probably doesn't have to become pro-active over this issue at all. Because the transformation has already subtly settled in. How can he tell? Well, all it takes is a simple history lesson. Has he stopped wearing chaps and smelling of horse manure...has he stopped spitting tobacco juice...does he attend church or temple on the weekends....does he drive a Prius, enjoy Barbra Streisand, hum Andrew Lloyd Weber tunes?

If he can answer yes to at least three of the above, he's already made the transformation. And aren't the women in his life glad...!