Man republic: Is it unmanly to select, buy underwear in public?

Last weekend while doing my lazy rounds in town, I came across a longtime friend who runs a clothing stall. She says she had to diversify from her sales job which, earlier during the pandemic, involved personally delivering items to her clients at their workplaces.

So, in the spirit of supporting a friend’s hustle, I wanted to buy something from her, even if I didn’t necessarily need it. Among all items she was dealing with, the only ones that could suffice for me happened to be undergarments. Now her zeal in pointing them out and encouraging me to “try this one because it looks like it fits you” really appalled me. I however ended up not buying anything because there is just no way I was going to buy boxers from a woman, and in broad daylight.

In fact, the last time I bought underwear for myself was via an online shop and it didn’t even matter that half of them didn’t fit me. I was just happy that I bought them without any physical interaction with the seller.

Call me old fashioned but I was brought up believing that issues to do with undergarments are discreet and should be handled as such. I even get surprised when I pass by living quarters and see undergarments hanging out to dry. How can someone be comfortable airing out their linen in public, quite literally?

The advent of a type of music that promoted nudity could be the reason why some people lost touch with the privacy of these garments. We forget that musicians do what they do for views, endorsements and marketing. Some don’t even believe in what they do.

And I get it, some of these misogynistic tendencies can be costly. For instance, recently when a female celebrity endeavoured to popularise a ‘no pants day’, I was invited alongside a few friends to help launch the project in my hometown. I was to be the master of ceremonies for that event and the reward was quite handsome.

But I turned that offer down because I couldn’t just fathom repeatedly talking about a ‘no pants’ event. It sounded horrendous to me and I thought I would be a let-down to the organisers. In retrospection though, I think that was shortsighted of me in a society where everyone is looking for money regardless of the means.

To any salesperson dealing in male garments reading this. Be informed that you must review the manner in which you advertise, package and deliver your items if you want men to purchase them. Do not expect us to come asking for them with the same zeal and confidence we ask for other products.

And if you are a female seller it may just be worse. Our African masculinity directs most of our actions. We are not shy, we are just African.

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