Shop like a man -Paco Underhill

This essay I felt was so true about men and their shopping habits. Whenever I go grocery shopping with my dad he never brings a gigantic list or coupons verses when I go with my mom. We also just kind of meander through the aisles picking random things mainly junk food. But when I go with my mom it's game time, she gives my brother and I 10 different things to grab then meet up in one area. Even going clothing shopping varies my brother and my dad dread going clothes shopping. My brother gets really cranky and puts on his "whatever" mood. And we go in and out of the store in a blink of an eye. However, shopping with my mom or my friends is a longer and slower process. We like to try on like 50 things at once and browse around window shopping. Even if I don't have any extra cash to blow my friends and I like to walk around the mall every Friday after school. It's almost become our ritual. Underhill wrote that when women shop with men they take even less time verses shopping with their kids. That is so true, when I was little my mom used to take forever in the Coach store debating whether or not to get a purse. My brother and I had the look of "just shoot me" during those 4 long hours. But, when I shop with a guy, if it's my dad or a friend I tend to take even less time or all together I don't go into that particular store because I feel bad about them being bored. Underhill in his essay brings up ideas of how he would change the shopping experience to make it more appealing to guys. Stores are already picking up on this concept, like Macy's for example. In front of the woman's dressing room they have special monitors displaying a sports game. They also have a couch to sit on and a foozeball table to play a pick up game. Then he goes on and on about how fathers are actively taking a role in bringing their children to the mall and grocery store.

Guys vs. Men - Dave Barry

I felt like this whole essay backs up the saying, "boys will be boys." Cut guys some slack because they aren't true "men" yet. And that guys are expected to act stupid and on impulse. Men are the guys that women idolize. Guys idolize being the manliest men or being able to burp the loudest. I liked the fact that Barry used situations that I am all too familiar with. Girls, how many times have you seen your guy friends do something stupid? Or when they completely ignore you for something like sports or computer games? Or you have that friend who is a complete Neanderthal? But some parts Barry seemed to generalized together all women, not all women like arranging furniture! I would rather have a really powerful computer that I have no idea of using. And I guilty as charged with doing an act that is totally stupid, like drinking a shot of hot sauce because I was dared. Which I did suffer miserably for. I found that the guys reviewing Barry's essay turned out to be funnier than what Barry was writing. Barry was trying way too hard to come across as funny and casual. The whole issue on how its okay for guys to cheat because it's in their genetics was so stupid. I laughed my butt off when I saw the offside comment, "I wonder if his wife read this?" (page 408) Guys to an extent are like dogs but cheating on their partner is morally wrong, unless it's something on the page as Halo 3 then that can't be helped.

edit//
Sorry guys, I posted this like a week ago before we knew what the assignment was. And I was quite satisfied with myself of the blog up there. So here is my comparison.

Barry's essay was very enjoyable to read because his style of writing was very laid back, personal and humorous. On the other hand a writer like Mary Pipher, in her essay it was very formal and serious. Both writers did take typical sterotypes of both sexes but Pipher seemed to put down the females claiming that they weren't as intelligent as men. Barry does do the same thing but it was mostly to take a piss out of the faults men do have. Pipher really focused on the fact that females had a low self esteem which then affects their confidence and intelligence. Pipher, lets just say was literally putting down womens' intelligence and Barry was just lightly joking upon guys' stupidity.