Why do men’s pyjamas (or pajamas, perhaps I should say) have buttons all the way up to the top, when women’s pyjamas or nightgowns gape open teasingly at the neck?
Do manufacturers and designers think that the nightie’s only function is to display women’s near naked breasts for the benefit of men? I mean, who cares about sleeping comfortably when you can show off your sexy cleavage to the extra duvet you have to clutch desperately to yourself because your *&^% night gown exposes your *&^% chest to the freezing winter elements, right? Birdwatchers, rejoice: look, blue tits!
Or maybe they’re just being very scientific about it all. After all, the female of the species is much tougher than the male, yes? So let’s factor that in. Women are hardier, what’s a cold after childbirth eh? So let’s save a button or two on that nightdress. And maybe we could save some material too, while we’re at it. That’s right, just cut that neckline a little lower will you? Then they can sport even more breastage. Bonus! They’ll like that. So will their men of course, which is the main point – they’d never buy night dresses for themselves, naturally, they only buy them to entice and titillate their males, sensible if fluffy little things that they are; they sure know what’s what in the sexual signal / mating ritual stakes!
Don’t forget the labour savings in not having to add that extra button or so – never let it be said that we don’t consider the welfare of our much valued sweatshop workers! Then they won’t have to stay up all night – in the cold, in their plunge neckline pyjamas – laboriously cutting out all those extra little buttonholes either. It all adds up, you know. As for négligées? Even better.
Bah. And bah again, I say. The only thing about my décolletage that I think about when I go to bed (I can’t speak for others of course, ahem!) is that it’s sufficiently covered up for me not to catch a chill.
True, some men’s pajamas don’t button up to the top either. Well it’s more acceptable these days to objectify men too, innit? Uncover that manly torso, show us some chest hair, yeah! & all that. Besides, real men don’t catch flu.
Never underestimate the power of the pyjama. It has a fine tradition in modern society, with pyjama protests in the UK over noisy aircraft and trains, and in South Africa by nurses. And unstylish pyjamas are only adding to Japanese prison inmates’ misery. Did you know that women spent twice as much on their PJs as men, in 2004? Think how much more we’d spend if they’d only button all the way up the bloody neck! Never mind if women wearing pyjamas make men feel their territory’s been invaded, yay to the pyjama mamas, all day pyjama syndrome and Chinese habits, I say! As for the pyjama being unsexy, did you know that 19th century explorer Richard Burton, who introduced the word “pyjamas” into the English language, also translated the Kama Sutra? So there!
I’ve even been thinking maybe I should go stay at a Travelodge hotel to get a set of their free itch-free full body pyjamas – with socks. (Warning, the photo in that article may be disturbing to some. Sorry, it just reminds me of the fab Woody Allen video (UPDATE: embedded below, go straight to 5:17 if you’re impatient to see what I’m on about), or maybe these videos on YouTube, and certainly the Monty Python clip. I defy anybody to look at the other pics here and keep a straight face.)
Yep, in terms of personality types, I’m definitely a “comforter”, according to the 2007 “pjology study” which bed specialist Silentnight commissioned – but boo to shortsighted Silentnight for not opening up their press gallery pics to all of us, not just pro journalists.
So what’s the girl geek angle, you may ask? Well, I get round that PJ design shortcoming by using one of the best gadgets there is – the safety pin. Or nappy pin, I’m not proud. Life is too short to sew on a press stud. Plus, I can imagine that I’m wearing a Zandra Rhodes original.
And yes, I always buy men’s pyjamas – even when they’re not pink. My legs feel the cold too. Though I wasn’t the men’s pyjama bottoms nicker, honest guv! (Actually, what I really really want is an adult sized baby gro, with feet, so that the pyjama legs don’t ride up and make my ankles cold. But don’t tell anyone.)
Yours etc
Female Wimp (Wimp who happens to be female. Not “Oh, you typical wimpy female“!)
PS how many women in fact have separate sets of night wear, one for glamorous seduction, and the other for actually changing into afterwards in order to get a proper night’s sleep? I’m convinced that’s why sales of both to women have been booming… not that I have anything against sales of négligées to men, I hasten to add, in case anyone accuses me of being nightwearist. I don’t mind if a man wants to wear a nég
ligée.
PPS if anyone’s bursting to say “Well I like my beautiful bare breasts, and I love displaying their buxom but delicately feminine curves”, fine. Good on yer.
PPPS and if you’re one of those who sleeps naked, even better. Never said I had a problem with nudity. Can I sell tickets? Profit share?
PPPPS in fact, there’s a serious message here: this instance may be more sexist / objectifying than most, yet it does strike me that many manufacturers are still, if unconsciously, pandering to sexual stereotypes in their products.
But aren’t delightfully heaving bosoms just so 18th century? I’m not denying that they have their place, both in the bedroom and out – but not when they’re heaving because you’re on the verge of pneumonia.
About Imp
Imp is one of our Girl Geek Dinners regulars and has a passion for mobile devices. When you see her just ask her how many phones she has with her this time!
