this post was submitted on 22 May 2026
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me_irl
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How do bows infantilize people?
Because that person thinks bows are childish? Or something?
Ask why there are bows on panties but not bows on boxers or briefs.
Because bows are seen as feminine? Since when is femininity infantilizing?
Bows aren't seen as feminine. Otherwise it would be an insult to give a man a present wrapped in a bow. They're seen as childish. Men wouldn't take it as a challenge to their manhood if you gave them a present wrapped in a bow. If your work uniform included a big shiny bow on the front, you would feel pretty damn infantilized.
Or in this specific case, the bow is meant to say "this body is a gift, an object, a thing to be conquered or obtained." Literal objectification. And this particular objectification only applies to women's bodies, not men's. Men get to receive the gift of a woman's body, but women don't get to receive the gift of a man's body. Men have agency, women don't. Classic infantilization, the stripping of agency.
Or, for a more specific example. Grown women don't tend to wear a lot of bows in their hair. That's something for young girls primarily. Same reason you don't see 40 year old women dressing up as fairy tale princesses. Fairy tales princesses aren't a feminine thing, they're a children's thing.
You realize women are choosing to wear bows on their underwear, yeah? Like, they can buy underwear sans bows. Virtue signalling prick
Must be exhausting to live like that.
Are you saying my bow tie is childish?!?!?
How dare you
Bows are for everyone but I feel more people see them as slightly feminine depending on the context. Kids have bows too I guess but mostly just girls so again feminine.
I hope you come to terms with your inner demons.
I hope you come to terms with your nihilism.
I don't think it matters if one comes to term with nihilism
Thank you for understanding nihilism. I was about to write the same thing as you.
Isn’t the bow in a present there for celebrative and decorative purposes?
The necktie originates from a bow kind of. Some men even wear bows with a suit, especially with a dress suit. It’s part of many butlers’ uniform.
Never have a thought of them as childish, but if that’s what you see then so be it.
Exactly. Bows on presents are meant to be festive and frivolous. You see them at Christmas, a holiday centered around children.
How many adults do you see with bow ties? Want an example? Tucker Carlson started his career wearing a bow tie. His whole shtick was he was a young edgelord conservative. The bow tie went with his youthful look.
I think you've really misunderstood bow ties.
Your logic is absolutely ridiculous lmao
Thanks for letting us have a glimpse of your thoughts. If you do requests, I would like to see you do jewellery next, which are decorative and celebrative and centered around some holidays as well.
Look at these young boys, nary a wrinkle nor a gray hair between them
What about a bow tie
Thank you for making my point for me. Bow ties are famously primarily worn by children.
I literally think of grown men when I think of a bow tie, not a child.
You might be projecting some weird shit.
.... What are you talking about? Bow ties are a notable example of mens formal wear.
They're commonly seen at weddings and the most formal of events like major award events.
Just look at those infantalized... Nobel prize winners, monarchs and national leaders?
Oh, and don't forget that formal naval military attire involves a neckerchief tied quite prominently in a bow much like the underwear.
You put bowties on children because they also snag less, and it's cute when kids wear formal attire.
ive never seen a child wear a bow tie yet ive seen countless adults wear a bow tie. hope this helps!
When I think of a bowtie, the first thing that comes to mind is a barbershop quartet, not a kid
Lol ok got it, all those children in bow ties roaming the cities
dunno, the wife unties the draw string on my boxers (that I usually tie in a bow because its easier to undo) and goes to town...
Juuuuust a bit outside.
I’ve lurked on here for a couple of years and made an account yesterday just to reply to your comment and say I love the reference and I read it in the announcers voice ha ha
Maybe to chuds.
lemmy is very misogynistic and dont like thinking critically about the patriarchal influences on everyday life.
i think this is a great write up.
Lemmy is very mysoginistic, in that a lot of you don't seem to understand that women have agency and can make decisions for themselves. Like it's somehow men's fault if a woman prefers underwear that she thinks look cute
Woman intentionally buys underwear she thinks is cute, that likely she will be the only one to see it and know what it looks like.
Men: That's infanticizing!
Have you ever looked at men’s footwear? Specifically the laced variety?
Gosh, I would love boxers with a lil bow on the front
Because typically girls like bows and men don't?
You're giving yourself away. Note you didn't compare women to men. You compared GIRLS to men. You yourself deep down know that this is infantilizing. You're just not willing to admit it.
No. Young girls like bows. Grown women rarely wear bows, pig tails, and other such things. You're confusing girls with women.
You're trying WAY too hard. Im going to just believe you're trolling because it's so ridiculous.
I see grown WoMeN with bows in their hair or in their dresses all the fucking time. Sure it's less often than children, but it's not some weird anomaly. Get some therapy and stop projecting your issues onto men.
Someone needs to seize this guys hard drives.
My 40+yo coworker who is probably more manly than you (don't feel bad, me too lol she's a beast) loves cute shit and bows, has stuffed animals on her desk, wore pigtails (I think, dual braids anyway) the other week, and meanwhile is better with tools and shit than most guys I know. You tell her bows infantilize her you might find yourself in a fight lol. Maybe we should just let people like what they like and not try and go all Freud on everyone.
Because flies offer similar decorative properties.