In this city, it's not uncommon for men to offer to carry women's purses for them. I've seen couples at the mall with a man toting all the shopping plus a pink purse. My male colleagues offer to carry my heavy computer bag when we walk together.
This was a revelation to me. i started thinking about the times when Ross and I went on vacation in years past, I was the one with the large wicker beach bag. Ross would give me things to carry in the beach bag, like the camera, brochures, map, beach reading, suntan lotion, and so forth. If it didn't fit into his pockets, it was mine to carry.
I didn't really question the Order of Things. Then I came here to the other side of the world...
This was a revelation to me. i started thinking about the times when Ross and I went on vacation in years past, I was the one with the large wicker beach bag. Ross would give me things to carry in the beach bag, like the camera, brochures, map, beach reading, suntan lotion, and so forth. If it didn't fit into his pockets, it was mine to carry.
I didn't really question the Order of Things. Then I came here to the other side of the world...
Not only that, in China, most white collar men carry man-purses, or murses.
I suppose that Chinese men have never been anti-purse. When they wore traditional clothing, they had long hanging sleeves they could use to store things.
I suggested to Ross that he could get a murse, too. He could start carrying his own paraphernalia around when we were sightseeing or shopping. Now that I think of it, not having a car makes a difference too; we can't leave random stuff in the car so anything we need or want, we have to haul along with us.
So, after some genial debate about the idea, he agreed (?!?) and found a small backpack type of murse with lots of pockets.
I suppose that Chinese men have never been anti-purse. When they wore traditional clothing, they had long hanging sleeves they could use to store things.
I suggested to Ross that he could get a murse, too. He could start carrying his own paraphernalia around when we were sightseeing or shopping. Now that I think of it, not having a car makes a difference too; we can't leave random stuff in the car so anything we need or want, we have to haul along with us.
So, after some genial debate about the idea, he agreed (?!?) and found a small backpack type of murse with lots of pockets.
But lest his buddies back home start asking if he's now buying candles and baking quiche, I assure you he is as masculine as ever and has already acquired a set of tools, a fly swatter, a wall thermostat, a bicycle pump, a caulking gun and other male accouterments here in China.
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