Shis issue: Y Electronic cigarettes welcome smokers back inside (Y Does body image matter on the beach? ( The disenchantment of working outside And more! Have your voice heard! Contact: Elliot Chan, Opinions Editor M opinions@theotherpress.ca www. theotherpress.ca Is society really serious when it comes to Father's Day? » One look at greeting cards reveal dads are often the butt of jokes Patrick Vaillancourt Contributor he holidays commemorat- ing our parents should truly be days of thanksgiving—days of reflection for all that our parents do, and have done, for their children. Many will argue that Mother’s and Father’s day, are commercial initiatives con- cocted by greeting card com- panies, and toa degree they’re right. Despite the commercial nature, there can be no denying that one day a year devoted to serving mom or dad is most ap-_: propriate in this individualistic society of ours. In the case of Mother’s Day, spouses and children go out of their way to make mom feel loved. Whether it be breakfast in bed ora day at the spa, mom typically has nothing to worry about on that second Sunday in ! Father’s Day was somewhat of a foreign experience given that : Idid not spend my childhood : growing up with my father. : That being said, it does not : take credentials in sociology ; to understand that there exists ae : avast difference between the make generalizations or blanket ways we honour our mothers and fathers on these days. May. It’s interesting, however, to compare the treatment of moms on Mother’s Day with how we show appreciation for our dads on their day. Of course, I don’t like to statements about how people differ in terms of showing thanks to their fathers. For me, One need look no further : than the greetings cards we buy : for our parents. A typical Mother’s Day card will be rather feminine, : adorned with flowers, soft : colours, and things that : symbolize the sacrifice of : motherhood. The words inside : the cards are beautifully written : : and often poetic. I, for one, : look at dozens of Mother’s Day : cards before I find the right one : : which conveys the message I : wish to send. Father’s Day cards are : often comical and cartoonish, : portraying men as aloof : breadwinners whose sole : responsibility in raising their : children is to give them a : weekly allowance. The wording : in your typical Father’s Day : card will most likely include a : punchline, meant to give dad a : lighthearted chuckle. I’m not sure why this : difference exists. Perhaps it’s : because fathers are too macho : for the thoughtfulness of poetic : : words we give to our mothers; : perhaps it has something to : do with gender roles and the : division of household labour. : The case could be made that : society has given mothers more : : of the responsibility for raising : children and housekeeping. However, society is : evolving. The nuclear family of : dad at work and mom at home : isa luxury only afforded to the : higher class. As both parents : work, the division of household : : chores becomes a necessity, and : : studies are showing that men: : are becoming more involved : in household and childrearing : responsibilities. Statistics : Canada reported in 2014 that 71 per cent of Generation Y : men who are married with : children participated in regular : housework, while 93 per cent of : Generation Y women married : with children participated in : regular housework. J will not : claim that it’s an equal division : of work, but the gap is much : smaller than it used to be. Yet, we continue to : portray fathers as drunk : couch potatoes handing out : allowances. Is Father’s Day : really a day of honouring our : family’s patriarch, or is it now : just a day where dad must roll with the punches of his own : deprecation? Asa child, I never bought Father’s Day cards for my : dad—not because of the jokes : contained within them, but I did not have the luxury of : growing up with him. I didn’t : even know Father’s Day existed : until I was about 10 years old. : As I write this article on the : subject, I thought I’d end it with : an homage to my father, still : the strongest man I ever knew, and forever the man I hope to make proud. Life is awfully short, so : instead of a card that belittles : dad for the things he gives us, : why not share a moment with : him that’s more serious in : nature? The disenchantment of working » Why some Jobs are best kept indoors Elliot Chan . Opinions Editor M opinions =, @theotherpress.ca or as long as I can remember I’ve had this romantic image of my work and myself outside, on a beach or ina park perhaps. I would lean up against a tree and gaze at the beautiful inspired. Then I would turn to my work and hammer away, doing the best job possible. Many times I have tried to execute this ideal way of being productive, but my expectations never meet my reality. I’m a writer, so my job consists of me sitting in front of my computer for long periods : of time. But I have mobility. I : can pick up my laptop and go to : acoffee shop, the Other Press : office, or I can even go to the : park and do all my assignments : there. : Prior to becoming a writer, I: : worked as a canvasser for World : Vision, patrol for the PNE, and : asandwich board advertiser : fora bed and breakfast off of : Oak Street. Those jobs got me horizon and feel overwhelmingly : outside, rain or shine. Now, I merely work from : home, which is great, but I : often feel like I’m missing : so much. I remember seeing : different neighbourhoods as a : canvasser; I remember meeting : different people as a patrol; and : I remember being shouted at by drivers as a sandwich board guy. : None of that happens anymore. : Moreover, ona nice summers : day, there is nothing better than : being outside—but that little : perk did not keep me on those : career paths for long. Often I'll be convinced that : perhaps my tedious written/ : research work can be done : in the picturesque exterior. : I'd schlep my computer, my : books, my pens, my notebooks, : and my coffee out with me on : an adventure in productivity. : What ends up happening is : that I waste a couple of hours : preparing and commuting to an : obscure location. I’ll survey the : area fora suitable place to work, : perhaps a park bench, see all : the bird poop on it, and quickly : move on to another. outside Finally, I'll settle at a spot : and hunker down. I unravel : everything the way I like it : and have a gust of wind blow : itall away. Disheveled, but : undaunted I’ll persist—that is, : until a wasp, a mosquito, or a : dog off leash decides to attack : me. Repeatedly my focus will be : broken, and ultimately, my work : : remains incomplete. : Feeling a sudden cold chill : of Vancouver, I’ll return home : to pick up the pieces of my : day’s work and to see how little : progress I have made in my four- : : to-five-hour excursion. I try not to think of my day : as wasted when I do make those : attempts to work outside in our : beautiful city. After all, I did get a chance to enjoy a splendid : day outdoors. Not many people : get a chance to do that. Some : are stuck in a kitchen, some : ina factory, while others are : attending to clients in an office : cubicle. ’'m lucky enough to : havea five-hour break with no : major consequences except for : the fact that I will have to work extra in the afternoon/evening. Working outside is a luxury, : especially in a job that is not : considered blue collar. I try to : take advantage of it whenever : I’m motivated to, but after so many failed attempts, I know : that I’m better off working : a little harder and faster : indoors and taking a legitimate : break outside later, when I’ve : accomplished my tasks and am : free from my worries.