How far do you agree with the women as cats/men as dogs metaphor?
I think it's a silly metaphor. I think all people are more like dogs than cats. But I don't care much for cats. :p
Here is what a cat person at another website wrote about cats and dogs.
"What dog breeds are most suitable for a "cat person"?
In particular, the attributes of cats that appeal to me are their small size, lack of strong smells, quietness, tendency to shed less, small appetite, cleanliness, and calm temperament.
By contrast, dogs strike me as large, smelly, loud, hairy, hungry, dirty, and jumpy."
Can these cat/dog attributes be applied to women/men?
I don't think dogs or cats are more like one of another. Cats seems stuck up to me. Dogs are more desirous of companionship from what I can tell. I mean cats can be nice and all, but they don't resemble the traits of one gender over another.
I tend to agree that women more closely resemble female homo sapiens than they do dogs.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shira.net%2Fdrawings%2Fgoddesses%2Fbastet-detail.gif&hash=a749ad3b86ad23f177fc6aaa15a369d8d1e567a7)
Bastet - Cat Godess. She protected pregnant women and was patroness for singing, music and dancing.
Mew, mew mew, nyanyan, mew, merow, mew mew mew, meow, mew-meow, purrrRRrr, moew, mow, meow, moow, reow, meow moew. *Bows and takes leave.*
<It seems to relate purely physically. Dogs are thought of as 'built', solid, and essentially a brute-ish creature. Cats are seen as sleek, dexterous, and compact. I think the whole idea entirely builds around the line of thought of such a theme. ---Personality wise, I don't think that there's much at all a comparison even remotely attempted. I guess maybe people just look at women and men much the way Princess of Hearts thinks about cats/dogs, though...That's just my opinion.>
(Edit: add)
*From distance "RREEWOOR!"*
<Oh, and btw, I say as well that it's just a silly metaphor. XD >
I figure there's probably a reason women are called catty. Maybe it's because of the noises we make when we're scratching eachother. :laugh:
I think it is silly because I like cats and my girlfriend likes dogs.
It only takes one exception to end the life of a theory.
I do think men are like dogs. They're both pack animals, their play is aggressive in nature and there's always a constant fight for the alpha position. As for women as cats, I'm not so sure. Now that I think about it, maybe women are more like dogs as well. I can think of plenty of occasions where the same rules fit women as well.
Quote from: MeghanAndrews on July 30, 2011, 05:32:41 PM
I don't think dogs or cats are more like one of another. Cats seems stuck up to me. Dogs are more desirous of companionship from what I can tell. I mean cats can be nice and all, but they don't resemble the traits of one gender over another.
But that's one of the things that makes cats great, you're like the cats slave and they're all like "Stroke me, peasant". It is a privilege for the cat to want to put up with the human. Dogs are just blind followers.
QuoteIn particular, the attributes of cats that appeal to me are their small size, lack of strong smells, quietness, tendency to shed less, small appetite, cleanliness, and calm temperament.
By contrast, dogs strike me as large, smelly, loud, hairy, hungry, dirty, and jumpy."
When you put like that it's hard to argue. I'll try anyway. I'm a dog person. I prefer females as they a less aggressive and very loving. I think both cats and dogs have attributes that are feminine and masculine. Domestic cats are pretty docile but they are part of a large breed that quite ferocious and aggressive. You don't want to corner a house cat in heat. Dogs can be matronly. They will take care of almost any other animal that needs it.
Large - not all breeds are big many are small that cats
Smelly - that's the owners fault as much as the dogs
loud - some are - concede that one
hairy - some dogs have hair instead of fur and never shed, I once had a Weimaraner with very short hair that was like velvet. Of course I have also had hairy shedding dogs too. concede that one too
hungry - I don't think cats get any less hungry there just more picky about what they'll eat
dirty - I think that is a misconception. Dogs clean themselves just like cats.
Jumpy- ?
I've probably taken this discussion way to far. Sorry.
I AM a Siamese cat.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg840.imageshack.us%2Fimg840%2F6181%2Fsnapshot007m.jpg&hash=22f036ce0c513bbdebe9c4e70a9abfbae961e33d)
I rather like the metaphore on one level.
Men are like dogs, dirty, smelly and kinda stupid.
Women are like cats, vain, devious, manipulative.
But, as I say, just on one level.
Quote from: Princess of Hearts on July 30, 2011, 05:14:29 PM
How far do you agree with the women as cats/men as dogs metaphor?
Being a cat lover, I can totally agree with that.
Think of Cat woman and the Twilight movies (Wolf/ Dog..close enough) but it fits the metaphor.
Alison
1) Known fact: females can be(come) "catty", males don't.
2) Known fact: males may act like "dirty old dogs", females don't.
I think the metaphor fits pretty well in general - exceptions confirm the rule :-)
Axelle
Quote from: Axélle on August 01, 2011, 08:41:13 AM
1) Known fact: females can be(come) "catty", males don't.
2) Known fact: males may act like "dirty old dogs", females don't.
agreed ;)
Quote from: spacial on August 01, 2011, 01:05:44 AM
I rather like the metaphore on one level.
Men are like dogs, dirty, smelly and kinda stupid.
Women are like cats, vain, devious, manipulative.
But, as I say, just on one level.
Reminds me of the old joke:
Dogs will go to heaven but cats will not. Thats because a dog thinks, "My master feeds me, gives me a home, takes care of me, and loves me. He must be god!" But a cat thinks, "My master feeds me, gives me a home, takes care of me, and loves me.
I must be god!"
Quote from: Lisbeth on August 01, 2011, 03:44:32 PM
Reminds me of the old joke:
Dogs will go to heaven but cats will not. Thats because a dog thinks, "My master feeds me, gives me a home, takes care of me, and loves me. He must be god!" But a cat thinks, "My master feeds me, gives me a home, takes care of me, and loves me. I must be god!"
Brilliant :laugh:
When women fight physical its usually refered to as a ''cat fight'' or some guys including my Husband refer to our female anatomy as a pussy, maybe thats where ''women as cats'' comes from.
Quote from: valeriedances on August 01, 2011, 05:00:41 PM
Quote from: pretty pauline on August 01, 2011, 04:58:30 PM
When women fight physical its usually refered to as a ''cat fight'' or some guys including my Husband refer to our female anatomy as a pussy, maybe thats where ''women as cats'' comes from.
I think Pauline's got it.
Or maybe it's the other way around.
Quote from: Princess of Hearts on July 30, 2011, 05:28:25 PM
In particular, the attributes of cats that appeal to me are their small size, lack of strong smells, quietness, tendency to shed less, small appetite, cleanliness, and calm temperament.
By contrast, dogs strike me as large, smelly, loud, hairy, hungry, dirty, and jumpy."
Even though I might be hairier, I don't shed as much as women/cats :)
Quote from: Princess of Hearts on July 30, 2011, 05:28:25 PM
"In particular, the attributes of cats that appeal to me are their small size, lack of strong smells, quietness, tendency to shed less, small appetite, cleanliness, and calm temperament.
By contrast, dogs strike me as large, smelly, loud, hairy, hungry, dirty, and jumpy."
Both sets of attributes can be applied to both dogs and cats; it just depends on the individual animal.
I've known cats that were huge, fluffy, shed constantly, smelled kinda gross, were constantly yowling for food, and very very jumpy.
I've also known dogs that were very small with little smell, were quiet, unshedding, calm, and didn't eat much.
But then there have also been animals in my life that did fit the stereotypes. That's what they are, really. Men stereotypes, women stereotypes, dog stereotypes, and cat stereotypes.
I think that humans in general are more like dogs because both humans and dogs are naturally pack animals. Also, humans and dogs are more likely to share general personality traits because dogs have specifically been bred and raised throughout the centuries alongside humans. But these are just in general, there will always be an outlier of some kind.
Quote from: Princess of Hearts on July 30, 2011, 05:28:25 PM
Here is what a cat person at another website wrote about cats and dogs.
"What dog breeds are most suitable for a "cat person"?
In particular, the attributes of cats that appeal to me are their small size, lack of strong smells, quietness, tendency to shed less, small appetite, cleanliness, and calm temperament.
By contrast, dogs strike me as large, smelly, loud, hairy, hungry, dirty, and jumpy."
Can these cat/dog attributes be applied to women/men?
Many of those attributes do not apply to all members of the species. My cousin had a very calm and gentle yet huge dog and a few years ago my friend's roommate had a beast of cat. He was a very small cat. You could probably have fit him into a shoebox with room to spare, but he was more feisty and aggressive than most dogs. I have also seen some cats that are bigger than some dogs, and all cats and dogs (and humans) are hairy.
This comparison breaks down even further when attempting to apply it to people. Sure there are some individuals who seem to have much in common with a typical cat or typical dog, but note the words "some" and "typical". There are simply too many exceptions for these generalizations to have much weight.
I like dogs okay. But at the same time, I consider myself more a cat person. Though I do often have a preference for male cats. But my boys were fixed at a young age, so they're honestly just big kittens. Rowdy, rough (they're not de-clawed), and admittedly, sometimes a little dim-witted. They can sometimes be picky about food, but honestly, if I leave it there all day, they'll eat it eventually (hunger always wins).
My girl however, she's like my baby, little calm thing, likes to be held like a baby too. She tends to just do as she pleases, but she's docile and very much likes to be held. Then there's the old bag, she's just...old and senile, and technically she's my mom's, not mine.
So really, animals have male and female characteristics and personalities just like we do.