Three Musings:
There was no “Perfect Woman” chocolate available.
The ampersand in “He’s Sweet & Rich” implies it’s hard to find a man who’s both.
I almost bought one.
Haiku:
The perfect man is
Three and a half inches tall
Found at CVS
I did a little research:
The company that manufactures “The Perfect Man” is called Treat Street. On their website, they have this ad:
“So Many Men… So Little Time!” – what does that mean, exactly? Here are some ideas:
It means nothing at all – just fluff, non sequitur?
It’s alluding to a woman’s biological clock? There are billions of men in the world (“So Many Men”), but if a woman wants to have a child she should hurry up (“So Little Time!”).
It’s referencing the song, “So Many Men, So Little Time” by Miquel Brown?
Note the use of the word “ought” in the top right corner of the ad. Whoever wrote the copy chose “ought” instead of “should.” Interestingly enough – unlike “should,” “ought” can be used to express moral obligation.
Therefore, not only is this chocolate “funny,” it is marketing itself in accordance with morality. Even the chocolate’s title, “The Perfect Man,” has an ethical twinge to it.
There is an intrinsic moral component to dating, especially for women, and especially women who date men. Is the man you’re seeing a “good guy?” Does he treat you “right?” Does he have “good intentions?” These questions are all rooted in a right/wrong binary.
It’s interesting to think about flipping these questions around (in terms of a heterosexual relationship). Is the woman you’re seeing a “good woman?” Does she treat you “right?” Does she have “good intentions?” The opposite isn’t quite as common.
It feels like in heterosexual partnership, the responsibility of morality too often reverts to the woman – she is tasked with finding a man who is morally sound, instead of the responsibility falling on the man. (i.e. Do you [the man] treat her right?)
An Interview with my friend, Jillian:
(This interview was edited for concision and clarity.)
Sophia: Describe your perfect man.
Jillian: For me, he has to be funny. He has to make me laugh, and I have to make him laugh. He has to be intelligent, but not a snob. He has to be kind and compassionate, he has to have empathy for others. He has to be polite to servers. Decent upbringing. Ideally he would be taller than me, sorry! And conventionally attractive – to me. I know it’s different for everybody, but I would like him to be a looker. You know, nice to look at.
Sophia: Totally. Do you think the perfect man exists?
Jillian: No. Girl, no.
In conclusion in 3 sentences:
Chocolate marketed in accordance with morality and societal standards is rather effective. When it comes to dating, searching for “perfect” is unattainable and a little depressing. That being said – next Valentine’s Day, CVS has you covered.
On the power of friendship and reverence for selfhood: