I came across this quote one day that instantly had me laughing out loud, and my brain began writing a post even before I rushed down the hall to my office.
“Can you imagine a world without men? No crime, and lots of fat, happy women.”
~ Marion Smith
After much not-so-serious thought, and a few hilarious phone calls to girlfriends who I knew would have an instant contribution, here’s my picture of what life would be like if women ruled the world.
1. A good glass of wine would cost no more than a beer. Just because you can’t belch it, doesn’t mean it needs to be twice the price.
2. Women’s haircuts would cost no more than a man’s. My hair and Hubs’ are roughly the same length. His price, $14. Mine, $42. Equal pay is pointless if we’re not being equally charged for services.
3. It would be illegal for fashion designers and photographers to use pre-pubescent twizzle sticks to model their clothes. Real-size, adult models, or no runway show for you, buddy.
4. Makeup would be optional. Always.
5. Store mannequins would include sizes 8-12. And in regular department stores, not just “plus-size” boutiques.
6. Yoga pants would be acceptable attire anywhere. You’d never again hear us say “We’re not going. I don’t have anything to wear.”
7. Women’s jeans would cost the same as men’s. His jeans, $48. Mine, $180. And his are still more flattering than mine. What’s wrong with this picture??
8. Stilettos would only be sold in the lingerie department, as bedroom wear, and shoe designers would be required to include fabulous flats as part of their line. Roughly half the female population doesn’t wear stilettos at work. Keep up, shoe people.
9. Fluorescent lights would be banned from all offices and retail stores. Soft lighting or pink tones would be standard in all offices and retail dressing rooms. And if you’re selling swimsuits, we expect a dimmer switch.
10. All scales would be calibrated at the manufacturing site to display five pounds less. We won’t tell if you don’t.
11. Health insurance would be required to cover massages, housekeeping services, and wine tasting in lieu of therapy. I’m 58. I don’t need prenatal care.
12. Fashion designers would have to manufacture their new lines in a full range of sizes, including those over size 12. I know it’s adorable in a size 2, but we can’t all fit into an adult onesie. Get real, you guys.
13. All gas stations would be manned by gas jockeys (no more self-serve crap), preferably hired from the Chippendale company.
14. Men who slept around would be considered tramps, while a woman who did the same would be applauded for her social skills. It’s takes a lot of finesse to take out every guy in your office. You go, girl.
15. All firemen would look like the guys in the calendars. Men want us to look like Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. Is this too much to ask?
16. If you slept with your boss and you got fired, so would he. What a concept.
17. Women would be paid the same as men for any job. No exceptions. Duh.
18. “More” magazine would have an annual swimsuit edition, with male models in banana hammocks. Yep, guys, we’re visual too.
19. Grocery stores would deliver 24/7. Including wine. We’d tip. We’d tip good.
20. Bars would check men for wedding ring tan lines upon entry, and provide loaners if he “forgot” his own. Better yet, call his wife.
21. Restaurants would offer the dessert menu first. If we’re still hungry, we’ll order dinner.
22. Once a year, men would make chocolate and wine trays for us, while we group binge on “The Good Wife.” After 14 years of wienie wraps, chips & clam dip bowls we’ve made for you on Game Day, this seems fair.
23. Hiking up to the third-floor wine bar at Nordstrom would be considered exercise. It’s three floors. With shopping bags.
24. Height and weight charts would be calculated by women, and allow for age, childbirth, and menopause, thus eliminating all guilt over those “last 15 pounds.”
25. The DMV would offer at least two choices of photographs for your license. If we have our eyes closed or we look tired, we want a do-over.
26. Cookies would never add more weight to your body than they weigh in your hand. Simple math.
27. Toilets would never flush while you’re still seated. One should never be scared of one’s toilet.
28. Dressing rooms would always have a mirror inside the room. We’re tired of having to stand in the middle of the store in clothes that are too small, too tight, or that hang our back fat out for the public viewing.
29. Mammograms would be performed without having to flop our boobs onto a metal plate and then smashing them with a vice. We’ve never known a man who had to slap his wienie onto a piece of cold metal and then vice grip it to check for abnormalities. There’s got to be a better way.
30. Men would memorize “Have you lost weight?” “What other woman? You’re the only woman in the room,” and “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again” as standard, unwavering responses to most of our questions.
31. Men would go through menopause, with hot flashes, sweats, and mood swings. We’d get the midlife crisis, the new Corvette, and the hot young trophy date.
32. There would never be more than a 10-year age gap between a leading man and a leading woman in any movie.
33. Media news stories about important men would start with a critique of his last haircut.
34. Men would no longer believe that their cars and careers take work, but their marriages will maintain themselves.
35. Overweight men would have to shop at plus-size stores. “Hilo Harry’s, Men’s Muumuus & More” would be the go-to spot for chubby hubbies.
36. Spanx would introduce a men’s line that all men, other than 20-something Hollywood hunks, would be required to wear so we wouldn’t be subjected to their droopy man boobs and belly jiggle.
Utopia has arrived.
I live as tho number four is already true :-)
Carla, I get closer every year! Thanks for stopping by! :)
I’m still laughing, love it! #15 would be fabulous!
I thought so too, Jane! It’s about as realistic as me looking like Giselle. :)
Spanks does have a men’s line!
Crying would be expected and accepted as part of a normal response to stress, anger, or sadness.
Adela, I’ve seen the Spanx men’s items in their catalog, but never on a man! :) And I agree, crying is natural, not weak! :)
Hahahahahahahahaha!!! By #29, I was laughing so hard, tears were running down my face. Thank you for a wonderful start to the day. Bwahahaha.
Thanks, Rita! This was a fun one to write! :)
So many good ones, so seemingly easy to mandate. I would tip at the gas pump!
Come to think about it, Haralee, if they looked like Chippendales, so would I! :)
I want to live in this world you speak of.
And you can bring your new Hubs, but he has to behave! :)
#35 is a must. Why do we have to go to a plus size store and they just go to a new area of the department? I agree with Julie though, Where is this world?
Melissa, if we build it, they will come! :)
I can’t stop laughing. And applauding. I don’t know which is my favorite, to be honest, but I keep coming back to the one about the fluorescent lighting in dressing rooms. It is beyond awful!
Thanks, Sandy! The fluorescent lighting design has baffled women for years! Aren’t any of these stores owned by other women who should know better? :)
Great concept, I think this needs to be an ongoing list! There will be ideas popping into my mind all day . . .
Kimberly
http://FiftyJewels.com
Kimberly, I know! As soon as I posted it, I thought of four more! :)
i’LL VOTE FOR YOU AS PREZ!!!
Thanks, Maureen! I can’t decide which one I’d implement first after the inauguration, but I’m leaning toward the Chippendale gas jockeys! :)
Another great list to live by! My husband is still quoting off of the list of what you shouldn’t say to your wife and everytime a buddy screws up he tells them they need a copy of “the list” !
Rena, you crack me up! Tell your hubs that I said hello and I love that quotes my list! :)
I have to admit the validity of this post. The only thing I can come up with from the guys side is there would be a statute of limitations on “Remember when you….” Thanks for another good laugh.
Axie’s Dad, that’s a great one, and my hubs would agree! He’d say “You get ONE ‘Remember when you…’ and it’s done.” :)
The perfect world, right there…
Thanks, Michelle! I’m not sure if they guys would be as receptive. We have to work it one item at a time! :)
Amen to all of these, Vikki! I think we should add that men would give birth to our children :)
Ooh, Beverly, how could I have missed that one! :)
Okay Some of these I am already guilty of. I have yet to find a place I won’t wear yoga pants to. I am pretty sure I have also dreamed about the grocery store delivering, mainly ice cream but wine would be good too.
You’re absolutely right! Ice cream, wine, and chocolate! :)
LOl – needed the laugh!!!
Thanks, Lynne! Glad I could brighten your day! :)
Fall out funny – because they are all true! Scary thing is, there are a lot of these that I never noticed until you pointed them out – some feminist I am! -Veronica
Glad you liked it, Veronica! Funny what we get used to, isn’t it? :)
Completely reasonable.
The haircut thing? Ridiculous.
Lisa, I’ve never understood why the price is decided by gender! I’ve decided I’m getting my next haircut at the barber’s office. Maybe it’ll be cheaper if he pretends I’m a man! :)
You always hit the right spot Vikki. That’s one hell of an Utopian world. Thank You.
Thanks, Surya! I’m glad you enjoyed this! :)
hahaha!! These are so funny! Thanks for the laugh! And I really chuckled at # 31 because my boyfriend has actually started having [sympathy] night sweats with me! hahaha!
Christine, isn’t it fun when they share the tough stuff with us? Got to love our guys! :)
Love your list!!!
Thanks, Andrea! Great to see you on Laugh Lines! :)
Very funny and comedic!! Although I will say I don’t totally agree with all of them. I like wearing makeup and heels!!! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks, Jodie! I like heels too, and I’m a total makeup product junkie. That being said, I’d like both to be optional! :)
This is fantastic! Love #16, #32. But in my profession. Especially #34!!!! Thanks Vikki!
Thank you, Margaret! I’ve been loving your blog! :)
You’ve nailed it! Was going to list my favorite numbers but I love them all.
How about another one? If women ruled the world, the front of every car, SUV, van, truck would be designed with a clean, safe, convenient space to put your purse.
Amen, Mary Anne! I’ll add that one to the list! :)