Comment on "Debate: Metrosexuals" (China Daily, Feb 14)

That men are becoming increasingly less masculine is indeed a worrying trend. This phenomenon can be attributed to the fast growing power of women in family affairs.

With full deference to women, I do not advocate male domination of society in the old sense of the term.

But I believe that we need to reinterpret the oft-repeated phrase, "equality of men and women", which in reality means true respect for the differences between men and women.

If most of the women have the final say not only in small family matters, but also in major family affairs, will husbands be happy? And will wives be satisfied with such useless spouses?

Instead of pursuing equality between men and women blindly, we need to have new insight into feminism by establishing a pattern of respecting gender differences between men and women.

It will be a matter of great concern if our existing education system remains unchanged for boys and girls both and if our understanding of equality of men and women is carried to ridiculous extremes.

Fei Jijing, via e-mail

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(China Daily 02/18/2011 page9)