There was an article in the Herald Sun the other day titled "Single Women Are Crying Out For A Real Man". The article suggests that in Australia, the bloke is on the endangered species list. They cite stats like:

• 75 PER CENT say men are more likely to bring champagne and a cheese plate to a barbecue rather than beer and a tray of raw meat
• 50 PER CENT say men are more likely to do yoga or Pilates than play footy or cricket on the weekend

This got me to thinking, is this true the world over? Or, rather, at least in Western countries and, more specifically, in large cities?

If it is indeed true (which I highly suspect it is), is there really anything wrong with it? I don't know that women have the right to demand that men be more "manly". I question whether this is an antiquated notion anyway, much the same way that the typical housewife is.

If men were to stand up and say "Where are all the servile, baby-bearing, have-dinner-and-my-slippers-ready-when-I come-home women?", what would the reaction be?

It wasn't too long ago that women were screaming for more sensitive guys in touch with their feminine side. If men took that rope and are now hanging themselves with it, whose fault is it?

Perhaps males and females are converging into a unisex species. The two poles of the divide are certainly getting closer. I've had a pedicure. My wife is earning more money than me.

But I've never brought champagne and a cheese platter to a barbecue. It's cervezas and steaks for me, and always will be. And I still kill the spiders when called upon.

I'm curious, what are you ladies out there seeing these days? Is it true? Is the "real man" on the way out?