I’ve posted more than once, and gleefully, about the weird American habit we have of associating dogs with men and cats with women.
Well, Adrienne H. sent in a particularly humorous example: an advertising image from Pajamagram, featuring “hoodie-footies” for the entire family. They are color-coded — pink for girls, blue for boys — all the way down to the dog and cat.
So, there you have it; I’m not crazy after all.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 58
Lynn — November 9, 2012
I don't think it's limited to an American habit. I remember thinking that dogs were boys and cats were girls of the same species, when I was young.
Tedi — November 9, 2012
that's not an american habit, but rather linguistic heritage: in german, cat is die (she) katze and dog/hound is der (he) hund.
Naomi — November 9, 2012
Which reminds me of this clip of Community: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8CchZsiQPc
myblackfriendsays — November 9, 2012
It's crazy cat _lady_, not crazy cat gentleman ;)
Peenworm Grubologist — November 9, 2012
When I was a little kid I honestly believed dogs were male and cats were female, like that was just how it was, though I did not yet "know any thing" so that was my excuse. So no you're not crazy.
Paul Blonsky — November 9, 2012
And the broader and more terrifying sociological question of what society allows this sort of terry-cloth apocalypse remains unasked.
Scott — November 9, 2012
I wonder if it's possible that the dog is actually male, and the cat is actually female?
Ann — November 9, 2012
Notice the photoshopped smiles of the dog and cat (and the fact that they are even clothed and in this ad!) - quite speciesist.
Rishi — November 9, 2012
"So, there you have it; I’m not crazy after all."
Heh, ableist humor.
Andrew S — November 10, 2012
It's true. Single women are "cat ladies" and are featured on shows like "Hoarders".
Single men are kick ass dudes who share their food with their kick ass dogs, like Mark Wahlberg.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m541n7Ebbi1rvjfdxo1_500.jpg
Naomi — November 10, 2012
Also: Why do the cats and dogs need pockets?
Hedge — November 10, 2012
I remember the dogs are boys cats are girls thing in old-time readers (learn to read books for children, I mean) and nursery tales, as well. Also a 'dogs are /for/ boys, cats are /for/ girls' notion in childhood, something that I suffered from a bit as a crazy cat gent.
Rick — November 10, 2012
Such a bewildering phenomenon. If only all cats were female, then we wouldn't have to cut their balls off.
Tobu — November 10, 2012
Counte example: Lassie ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassie ) is a female heroine. Even though she was played by male dogs exclusively.
Anna — November 10, 2012
It's interesting that historically, cats have mostly been aligned with female-oriented myths, folktales and superstitions. Sometimes they were highly revererd, as in ancient Egypt, or demonized, as with their association with the Devil and witchery in the Middle Ages, but either way, they were usually connected to women. One possible exception would be Mohammed's famous cat, whose sex is disputed.
Dog Stabber — November 11, 2012
I hate dogs.... I want to bathe in their blood. Tee hee!
TERRA NOVA — November 11, 2012
Type your comment here.RED OR BLUE IT'S ALL ILLUMINATI - WAKE UP - ILLUMINATI CONTROLS US -
ILLUMINATI CONTROLS WORLD - CIA DID 911 - SADDAM IS ALIVE - OSAMA IS
ALIVE - HIV OR AIDS - CANCER CHEMTRAILS - DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE IN
THE NEWS - WAKE UP - 11:11 - 1:23 - BACKWARDS ANGELS - BACKWARDS TIME -
WAKE UP - DEMOCRATS - REPUBLICANS - WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING - OCCUPY
WALL STREET - OCCUPY ILLUMINATI - CIA IN YOUR BRAIN - CIA WATCHING YOU -
ASPARTAME - CONTROL THE MASSES - RADIO TRANSMITTERS - 1984
TERRA NOVA — November 11, 2012
Type your comment here.RED OR BLUE IT'S ALL ILLUMINATI - WAKE UP - ILLUMINATI CONTROLS US -
ILLUMINATI CONTROLS WORLD - CIA DID 911 - SADDAM IS ALIVE - OSAMA IS
ALIVE - HIV OR AIDS - CANCER CHEMTRAILS - DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE IN
THE NEWS - WAKE UP - 11:11 - 1:23 - BACKWARDS ANGELS - BACKWARDS TIME -
WAKE UP - DEMOCRATS - REPUBLICANS - WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING - OCCUPY
WALL STREET - OCCUPY ILLUMINATI - CIA IN YOUR BRAIN - CIA WATCHING YOU -
ASPARTAME - CONTROL THE MASSES - RADIO TRANSMITTERS - 1984
TERRA NOVA — November 11, 2012
RED OR BLUE IT'S ALL ILLUMINATI - WAKE UP - ILLUMINATI CONTROLS US -
ILLUMINATI CONTROLS WORLD - CIA DID 911 - SADDAM IS ALIVE - OSAMA IS
ALIVE - HIV OR AIDS - CANCER CHEMTRAILS - DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE IN
THE NEWS - WAKE UP - 11:11 - 1:23 - BACKWARDS ANGELS - BACKWARDS TIME -
WAKE UP - DEMOCRATS - REPUBLICANS - WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING - OCCUPY
WALL STREET - OCCUPY ILLUMINATI - CIA IN YOUR BRAIN - CIA WATCHING YOU -
ASPARTAME - CONTROL THE MASSES - RADIO TRANSMITTERS - 1984
Dog Police — November 11, 2012
So how many of you are, in fact, dog rapists? Be honest.
PinkWithIndignation — November 12, 2012
...and they both look ridiculous in hoodies!
Moo — November 12, 2012
how u no that babby no grill
LexieDi — November 12, 2012
I don't know if anyone's mentioned it... but the "Blue" brand of cat food talks about how all (cat) moms want their "little girls" to be happy and all that. But they keep referring to the cats as females and I kept staring at the television like, "What?!"
Consumer — November 13, 2012
I don't understand the difference between the "boy's" and "girl's" pjs - it seems you can only get blue in either case, and they look identical?
Vixen, Fähen, Zibben und andere weibliche nicht-menschliche Tiere | — January 28, 2013
[...] werden. Warum aber Katzen oft als weiblich gedacht werden, ist weniger einfach zu erklären. Hier findet sich auf eine meiner neuen Lieblingsseiten ein Werbefoto für Bademäntel für die ganze [...]
Vixen, Fähen, Zibben und andere weibliche nicht-menschliche Tiere « — January 29, 2013
[...] werden. Warum aber Katzen oft als weiblich gedacht werden, ist weniger einfach zu erklären. Hier findet sich auf eine meiner neuen Lieblingsseiten ein Werbefoto für Bademäntel für die ganze [...]
Bii — January 26, 2019
I grew up with two cats who were brothers and the only dog I knew was female. So, even though I knew they had to have both to exist, I still associate cats with male personalities and dogs with female personalities more.
Anonymous — September 8, 2019
Actually it's the other way around all cats are male coz the only want what they can't have until they get it and then they don't want it anymore they play hard to get they are controlling and everything has to be on there time table and still woman chase after them.
Where as dogs are loyal put up with your bullshit fall in line a little too easily but can still be check and rude love your shoes need more attention and think the owners shit doesn't stink when I'm sure all her doggy girlfriends are warning her that he is just not good enough
Anonymous — April 15, 2021
why me boys pet the cat im hate the dog
Hilmi wahid abdul aziz — April 15, 2021
why me boys pet the cat and im scare with dog, please why theme girls is cat
Hilmi wahid abdul aziz — April 15, 2021
unless im boy to pet cat
iron golem gaming — April 19, 2021
cat is boy dog is girl. dog is super nasty cat is god
Hilmi iron golem — April 19, 2021
dogs is girl. cat is boys im boy to pet cat
steve — April 19, 2021
ye dog is boy cat is girl
Hilmi iron golem — May 25, 2021
plese stop with 21ng dog is boy cat is girl
Hilmi iron golem — May 25, 2021
plese stop with 21ng dog is boy cat is girl
Hilmi iron golem — July 25, 2021
this is {...} post. what if i making a website dog are girl cat are boy
cutie si kucing — September 15, 2021
catman are angry with woman
cutie si kucing — September 15, 2021
catman are angry with woman expect the catman girlfriend
Hilmi iron golem — September 15, 2021
my mr tried to post dog are girls cat are boys
Hilmi iron golem — September 20, 2021
yeah i know blue are boys pink are girl but dog is girl cat is boys
Dalmationer — November 27, 2022
I think it is because of the nature of the two legs. Most of man’s best friend were bred to help men carry out traditionally masculine activities like hunting and driving cattle and the sort. While cats still hunt mice and all that, they’re traditionally just royal pets and accessories. Also, the idea of a “crazy cat lady” may just be another way to shame women about their interests or make them look “crazy,” when really they just have a few cats.