When I opened my case in the hotel, he gestured excitedly at my snakeskin sandals, turquoise suede wedges and silver-speckled jellies. "But you've loads of shoes," he bellowed joyfully. I shook my head sadly. Men just don't get it, do they? They're definitely missing the shoe chromosome.
In Marian Keyes' book "Under the Duvet," the author humorously recounts an encounter at a hotel where a man enthusiastically reacts to her collection of shoes. His joy at seeing her snakeskin sandals and other stylish footwear contrasts sharply with her dismay at his obliviousness. Keyes expresses a shared disappointment that many men fail to understand the emotional connection women have with their shoes, seeing them merely as objects rather than as a source of joy.
This playful reflection highlights the gender divide in perceptions of fashion. Keyes cleverly comments on the stereotype that women have a deeper appreciation for shoes, suggesting that men simply lack the understanding—or "shoe chromosome"—to grasp what makes them so special. The light-hearted tone in her writing effectively illustrates this societal difference while inviting readers to laugh along with her experience.
