Taco Bell armpits

Almost every day, I take a shower. \nFrom my observations, it seems that, at least most days, the male peers whom I am typically around maintain sufficient hygiene by cleansing as well. I would presume that soap is involved somewhere in their endeavors, as it's certainly a primary tool in my own hygienic maintenance.\nThe human culture of the U.S. values personal cleanliness, but a Western-culture dweller wouldn't know it from advertisements of soap and skin care products.\nAfter minutes of intense research, I discovered there are no differences between the human male and human female skin. Regardless of our gonads, all of us are covered in the same flesh filled with all kinds of fun glands and vessels and follicles.\nIt's noteworthy, then, that primarily women are featured in and are promoting products that aim to eliminate body odor.\nCaring about one's appearance is considered feminine and femininity parallels homosexuality (can someone please tell me why?) in contrast to the constraining masculine ideals that dominate our culture. Hence, heterosexuality must be blatant in the promotion of these products for guys to feel OK about purchasing and using it.\nFirst, I consider Dove advertisements. The company has been largely applauded for their "Campaign for Real Beauty." I won't use the same tired (yet valid) argument here the women in the those ads -- give or take a few pounds of muscle -- fail to challenge the hegemonic feminine beauty ideal.\nInstead, I point out that this soap (not make-up or feminine products) company fails to include men in any of its ads. I wonder if it has considered how they're eliminating a massive demographic of individuals. Interesting, too, that the parent company of Dove, Unilever, owns Axe as well.\nThe Dove marketers are not \nisolated in their actions. Consider Neutrogena ads or just take a look at www.neutrogena.com and you'll find only females promoting the products (white females, no less). \nSo needn't men consider their skin? Nah, they can. So long as they're soaping-it-up with a hot chick. \nConsider Axe products and their commercials. To "make it OK" for guys to consider hygiene and appearance, women must stroke toasters and pole dance in response to the scent promised by the body wash. \nA recent Old Spice High Endurance Body Wash commercial blatantly extends this point further. A presumably married guy in the shower is asked by his partner who of her friends he would sleep with if he had the opportunity. I can't recall what the guy says in response, but this is all in an effort to sell soap. Soap. \nBeing human beings and all, its OK to value beauty and pleasant things -- including not smelling like Taco Bell under your armpits. \nPerhaps when our culture is unafraid to deconstruct the strict gender binary it will be culturally acceptable for guys to buy all the hygienic and appearance-enhancing products they please.