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50. Some folks I know had a baby shower today for their daughter, her husband,

Sun Mar 22, 2015, 08:08 PM

Mar 2015

and about 150 guests. Nothing fancy, not talking about rich people. But it did make me wonder about what is the point of a baby shower, and why did I feel there was something lacking. I guess we all just like whatever we grew up with and feel familiar with. I always think of a baby shower as a sort of intimate, sweet and funny event among women, where everybody behaves as if it's all the most normal thing in the world while realizing it's the most mysterious. So I guess in that sense I might have to agree my view is sexist, at least by some definitions. Interesting question boston bean, thanks for bringing it up.

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This message was self-deleted by its author [View all] boston bean Mar 2015 OP

I have attended baby showers as a man and I threw one, too, in the 80's. NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #1

Love you MORE, SKP! elleng Mar 2015 #5

As a guy, that would be the last place I would want to be. Nye Bevan Mar 2015 #2

I won't label it 'internalized sexism,' elleng Mar 2015 #3

Yes, this is internalized sexism philosslayer Mar 2015 #4

Listen, there is not a one of us who is not a product of our environment. boston bean Mar 2015 #6

You're the one who asked for opinions philosslayer Mar 2015 #16

Yep.. boston bean Mar 2015 #18

Seems fine to me. cyberswede Mar 2015 #7

My son-in-law was at my daughter's baby shower Freddie Mar 2015 #8

my wife had a couple of showers that were all-female... ProdigalJunkMail Mar 2015 #9

Why would you want the father excluded? alphafemale Mar 2015 #10

Well, I guess the usual discussions that go on at showers boston bean Mar 2015 #14

Maybe your niece thought it was only fair.. cyberswede Mar 2015 #40

Well, she sat right next to him I believe expecting to open them... LOL boston bean Mar 2015 #41

LOL - sounds like they should have at least taken turns cyberswede Mar 2015 #43

I've burned the ears of plenty of males. alphafemale Mar 2015 #51

I have too, but I would probably not do so at a baby shower. boston bean Mar 2015 #52

Did he put on a show for all the ladies there? snooper2 Mar 2015 #72

I wasn't invited Brother Buzz Mar 2015 #11

LOL. Sounds like you had a good time. :) boston bean Mar 2015 #28

I threw a baby shower Texasgal Mar 2015 #12

This was not that type of co-ed shower where all males in the family attended. boston bean Mar 2015 #15

I think this is the new norm. Texasgal Mar 2015 #19

It really is just me... I'm just working my way through it. boston bean Mar 2015 #20

To recognize it and Texasgal Mar 2015 #36

Thanks TG! boston bean Mar 2015 #53

It's not new to me... one_voice Mar 2015 #13

Well, I can only go by my own experience, but this is the first baby boston bean Mar 2015 #17

I didn't mean anything by my comment... one_voice Mar 2015 #32

No no no I didn't take it that way... that was why I put the smiley face. boston bean Mar 2015 #34

No worries, the internets make it difficult for us sometimes..lol one_voice Mar 2015 #38

that they do! boston bean Mar 2015 #39

I might be going to a baby shower where there well could be no mother attending. Thor_MN Mar 2015 #21

+100 Sissyk Mar 2015 #65

I have known many people who are uncomfortable opening gifts. KMOD Mar 2015 #22

I think that is generally how things are now .... ? etherealtruth Mar 2015 #23

Really... I guess I really am behind the times... boston bean Mar 2015 #25

"A special day for her and a day for women, who have experienced the same thing." WorseBeforeBetter Mar 2015 #67

I've been to a few baby showers where the expectant father attended. Arkansas Granny Mar 2015 #24

My husband didn't attend mine and it wasn't a precursor to him being uninvolved. boston bean Mar 2015 #26

If I were married, I'd leave it up to my wife. I wouldn't mind going if she wanted me there. BlueJazz Mar 2015 #27

Why should baby showers be the exclusive domain of women these days? Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #29

That I recognize, Gormy and therefore my conflicting thoughts.... boston bean Mar 2015 #44

Bridal showers used to be mostly the domain of women too (hence the name) Gormy Cuss Mar 2015 #69

Let's examine what the role of a Baby Shower is. If it's to give women KittyWampus Mar 2015 #30

Well, my thought was that it was the first in your scenario... but maybe I am just behind the times. boston bean Mar 2015 #46

it's being the only Male that makes it kind of unusual JI7 Mar 2015 #31

Yeah, I think that might be my main issue. boston bean Mar 2015 #33

perhaps she is less comfortable being the center of attention? I would be mortified myself! bettyellen Mar 2015 #73

When my daughter was born in 1967 HeiressofBickworth Mar 2015 #35

Of course, I agree that it is much better to have men more involved. boston bean Mar 2015 #37

IMO, he is a control freak or a doper looking for items to be pawned. CK_John Mar 2015 #45

If the father is there marym625 Mar 2015 #42

I think both parents should be at the baby shower missingthebigdog Mar 2015 #47

if she ordered me to be there i would be there...never argue with a pregnant wife dembotoz Mar 2015 #48

i see where you are coming from. there are guys out there who take the dad thing mopinko Mar 2015 #49

Some folks I know had a baby shower today for their daughter, her husband, enough Mar 2015 #50

Thanks for the comment! boston bean Mar 2015 #54

This whole men at baby showers thing is weird LittleBlue Mar 2015 #55

I spent 90% of the time at my sis-in-laws wedding shower with the guys back in the bar. bettyellen Mar 2015 #75

I don't see the big deal. NaturalHigh Mar 2015 #56

There is that too, I think... boston bean Mar 2015 #57

Hubby was there for mine, but so were his male coworkers. nt Ilsa Mar 2015 #58

So, it was more like a jack n jill wedding shower? nt boston bean Mar 2015 #59

I think mercuryblues Mar 2015 #60

Heh, I bet I can name at least one of the DUers who will do exactly that. Sheldon Cooper Mar 2015 #61

Well, twenty-something years ago madamesilverspurs Mar 2015 #62

Cute story for you. Sissyk Mar 2015 #63

I think baby showers can be really different in their purpose A Little Weird Mar 2015 #64

Loss of tradition? Seems like they're making their own traditions. bigwillq Mar 2015 #66

As a woman that's the last place I'd be! n/t PasadenaTrudy Mar 2015 #68

Me, too. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2015 #71

My baby shower included Bettie Mar 2015 #70

Men don't belong at baby showers... Oktober Mar 2015 #74

My daughter's baby shower 25 years ago this summer Ms. Toad Mar 2015 #76

If the dad is there, then other male attendees should be there, too. Otherwise, it's valerief Mar 2015 #77

I've attended many many baby showers tammywammy Mar 2015 #78

My SIL and his Dad came last year HockeyMom Mar 2015 #79

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2015 #80

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