Read something that amused me today. Andy and I have always argued this topic of discussion. He takes the stand of 'there's nothing wrong in doing that as long as you hold my hand so people know that it’s for a reason' whilst I took the stand of 'it's wimpy and embarrassing for you'.

::Extracted from CLEO's October issue::

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It ain't heavy.. it's my girlfriend's handbag by Chad Lim

I can't understand why some men carry their women's bags for them. Call it chauvinistic, call it primitive, but a guy walking around with a pretty girl on his arm and her handbag over his shoulder just doesn't look right. Even if he is wearing matching heels…

So why do these guys do it? Why do they willingly swing their girlfriends' handbags over their shoulders as if it's the most natural thing in the world, and should they be doing it?

I believe it all started with the hatching term SNAG (Sensitive New Age Guy). The SNAG is the guy who takes the time to discuss the secret ingredient to the upside down pineapple cake with your mother. He asks for directions when lost on the road while the rest of us non- SNAGs pretend everything’s under control.

Today there's a lot of talk about guys being "metrosexual". These are the guys who have an immaculate understanding of women and who take very good care of themselves. The do not use ordinary soap and water – they have fancy products for specific parts of their bodies. They're not gay yet seem to understand women the way gay men do. They shotgun their beer while sharing their views on the difference between A-line and pencil skirts. This new breed may appear unmanly to some, but the truth is, a man to display his feminine side so necessarily be secure about his masculinity to begin with. To sure a self-assured guy, what's a bit of handbag carrying?

Have guys been genetically altered somewhere down the line then? It bodes ill for the rest of us who are still of the Captain caveman strain. Are women still looking for the knight in shining armour? Nah, I think they’d prefer a guy who'd bother to climb those stairs to their tower and help them finish the embroidery instead. Let's be honest, if women really choose men based on what they’re looking for, then every nice, average guy out there would be besieged with females trying to date them. But average guys generally stay home on the weekend with a date from the local video store or with their keyboard and mouse. Despite what women say and how often they bring up the Women's Charter, they want a man who acts like a man. Scratch the surface and you'll find that deep down they don’t really want a man to act like a woman any more than a guy wants a woman to be mannish. Perhaps what women love about modern men is their ability to be tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Maybe the key is to never listen to what a woman says, but pay attention to what she needs.

My knowledge of what women want can be summed up on the back of a beer coaster, but I guess that's where guys like me should take the initiative. We need to find that balance. We need to start asking for directions when lost. We should be supporting her choice of hobby and yes, we should be ready to hold her handbag if the need arises. Hell, if Brad Pitt can wear a skirt, we men can certainly hold a handbag occasionally. Besides, it's not that heavy.

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Haha. Andy's a SNAG! But still, I'm not going to allow him to carry my bag unless it's heavy. I guess I've to learn to love the fact that not every guy offers to.
Ps: Didi, I thought of you big time when I read this article.. Moon.. Hello Kitty.. Pink furry bag.. You.. Hiding.. HAHAHHA :P Sayang!