Cats versus dogs. It’s a timeless debate some in our society seem to place far too much importance upon for some reason. There is more to it than just being a simple question, depending on who is asking. When an American male asks are you a cat person or a dog person, what they are really asking is are you masculine or feminine. You see there is this perception in American society that dogs are for males and cats are for females. Furthermore they believe, especially the toxic masculines, that males who prefer cats are either weak, or gay. Yet women who like dogs or cats don’t seem to have their sexuality called into question regardless of which answer they provide. I never understood this.
Then there are those who answer both or neither. Both can be an acceptable answer, depending again on the gender of the person giving the answer. Again for some reason if a woman says she likes both, nobody seems to care. If a man says both, then they usually have to immediately follow it up with their parner, or child, likes cats so they’re just trying to be a good partner or parent depending on their situation. This seems to be midly acceptable to most yet still can garner judgement still.
What about those who say neither? Well this is where things can really get complicated depending on whatever responses come next. If a male says neither and responds with they like reptiles or fish, mostly acceptable. If they say they prefer birds there is a whole new set of judgements getting past onto them, usually accusations of insanity or some similar ilk. If they say things like hamsters or horses, well more worms getting opened. Rodents have similar negative connotations as cats and birds, usually accusations of homosexuality, femininity or insanity. A male can say they like horses if they are a cowboy and clarify they ride horses for sport but if they keep them as pets, that can causes raised eyebrows yet again.
In yet another example of double standards, regardless of what answer a female American gives usually garners far fewer judgments. Girls can like birds, fish, rodents, dogs, cats, horses, ponies or most warm blooded pets but she could receive harsh judgement and criticsm if she says she likes reptiles. You see in American society boys are allowed to like reptiles but girls are supposed to be afraid of them or some such nonesense. Neither gender is permited to suggest their preferred pets are insectoid or arachnids at all. That brings a whole new set of judgments not of being insane, but of being too intellectual or nerdy.
I find it entirely pointless that American society places so much meaning behind what type of pets a person claims to be drawn to. I know there are far more important things in our society we could be focused on than what pet one prefers but this is just another area where there is some unseen force placing undue pressure on everyone to give the correct answer, whatever that may be. I couldn’t care less myself. I’m fairly open to nearly all sorts of pets except reptiles, bugs and horses. Dogs I am iffy on but not entirely against. But my answer will always be cats.
