In our good ol’ boy world of Texiz, a double standard for the sexes has long existed.
Equal rights standards notwithstanding, a dominant macho mentality for years steered public thought and even legal ruling in favor of males.
It’s the cowboy image, don’t you know. “Come heah, woh-mun!” Try it with the emphasis on the “heah” then a little heavier on the “woh-mun,” and you’ll get an idea. Once, you could hear that on a daily basis in the rural, country-loving world in which I grew up.
I suppose, if we’re trying to place gender blame somewhere, perhaps we can begin with Hank Williams.
Say, whut? You mean the old Hall of Fame country singer, Hank Williams?
Yep. Remember “Your Cheatin’ Heart?” (Note to wannabe C&W songwriters: Never put a “g” on a word with an “ing” endin’.)
In the interest of public disclosure here, I’m a long time devotee of country music. I was force-fed it growing up in a one-radio home. (Yeah, I grew up before TV. So?) That was a four-foot tall relic bought from the Western Auto in Teague and every Saturday night it was tuned in to the Grand Ol’ Opry (yep, opera with a “y”). Of course, on Sunday mornings our single music source household had the Stamps Quartet gospel harmonies, with its country roots, grooved into our ear drums.
They’s a reason fer that country music listenin’, you see. We wanted to make fun of them snotty, blue blood, monocled rich folks whose favrit thang was that snooty screechin’ (remember no “g” except in “thang”) stuff they calls opera music.
Sophisticated, hmph! I’ll show yew sophisticated AND equal rights. Tammy Wynette spelled that out with: D-I-V-O-R-C-E. And Loretta (Webb) Lynn punctuated it with “Don’t Come Home A-Drankin’ with Lovin’ on Your Mind.” Oh, and for you history and literature lovers out there, Shakespeare’s momma’s maiden name was Webb.
Yes, country music contains a lot of “cry-in-your-beer” lyrics and most of it is based on “cheatin’.” (Why else would a man or woman cry in their beer?)
Now, I didn’t write all of this to suggest that infidelity is most prevalent in the homes of country music lovers. I believe it seems to be prevalent in that music genre simply because it sells in a social order where hard times and great disappointment are daily fare.
Perhaps the hard-work, 18-hour-day tough-but-simple life of country folks lends itself to cheating. Hard work, physical absence and romantic neglect will do that.
A neglected wife might turn to someone else for attention and affection. As one thing often leads to another, physical acts take place and jealous rage is prevalent with the offended mate.
It was once said, and apparently proven for years, that if a good ol’ Texiz boy caught his mate in bed with someone else, he was justified in shooting the intruding male lover. Annnnd, if the bullet(s) happened to also find his wife and kill her, then it was justifiable homicide in both cases.
I actually knew of one case many years ago where a man set his wife up by having someone encourage an interested male to become her lover, then killing both and beating a murder rap with the justifiable homicide ruling.
Changes in state laws have thankfully closed loopholes and eliminated any “justifiable legal homicide” rulings in cases of infidelity. Killing another human being, even under such dramatic and disturbing conditions isn’t justifiable.
Anyway, at age 78 that’s the least of my worries.
Uh, what’s for dinner, dear?
“Take out.”
Sounds good.
“Wanna watch TV?”
What’s on the tube?
“Good Wife.”
Okay by me.
Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editor-publisher of more than 50 years experience.
wwebb@wildblue.net
