Americans - may I ask a question?

[panik]

I've been reading - with huge pleasure  - a message board for (mostly female) Americans living in Britain. One thread (which I can't now find, irritatingly!) kept going on about how British men seem more secure in their sexuality (huh? :G:) and one of the reasons cited (repeatedly!) for this opinion was that they happily take baths - seem, even, to enjoy them...

And I'm thinking - what???!
HOW in the name of all that's holy is taking a bath a man's expression of ease with his sexuality???

Do American men not take baths, then? And if not, why not??? It's just that, I'm writing a fic in which Blair takes a ath and now I'm wondering - would he do that?

Gotta say - I find this confusing, perplexing and very very strange.

Americans - can you enlighten me? :VBG:

Comments

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

LOL. I know I'm Canadian, but I'm putting in my 2¢ worth anyway.

I'd never thought about it at all before, but every man I know takes showers and never baths. My J. has only ever taken a bath if he's got really stiff from overextending himself lifting stuff or whatever - he has a bad shoulder.

I don't know if it's a macho thing or just efficiency. But I never realized it was a North American thing. LOL. =>}

[aerianya.livejournal.com]

I think most american men are too big to fit comfortably in the smaller bathtubs most places have.
Showers are faster and they don't have to rinse out the tub :)
The Grumpy Guy usually only gets in the bathtub for a soak after doing something stupid that caused pain, hum ...maybe that's it, an association thing heheheheheh

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmm.... Are American men biger than British men? My partner's a BIG guy! I mean, he's 6 foot and pretty built and he takes baths all the time so...?

[aerianya.livejournal.com]

No, I think american bathtubs may be smaller.

[vamysteryfan.livejournal.com]

American bathtubs are much smaller and shallower than in England. The first time I visited there, I was stunned at the size of the tub in what was a pretty non-luxurious hotel room. Your guy would not be able to stretch out in an American tub.

I also think it's a time/efficiency thing. American men jump in and out of the shower. Also, in American advertising, baths are depicted as more of a female relaxation thing. (I'm thinking "Calgon take me away" for any Americans)

So, IMHO, Blair would take a bath to ease muscle aches. There are also some nice stories where Blair taking a bath (and Jim bathing him) are very symbolic. Blair taking a bath - ummm works if it has some sort of ritual connotation. Otherwise, not so much.

Hmmmm

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

OK. That's a lot of food for thought. I mean, I think I'd still defo keep the bath in (it's such a nice image :G:) but... so many little cultural differences you'd never have thought existed. Very interesting. Thanks everyone for the input.

I do wonder why US baths are so small, though?