Narcissism and the gym...

I went to work out at the campus gym yesterday evening and realized something while on the elliptical. I didn't have a book to read with me, so I was people watching discreetly (with headphones on and music going).

Guys are the ones that predominantly check themselves out in the mirrors, flexing their muscles and wearing shirts that maybe shouldn't be as tight as they are in some cases or look like they're basically hanging by a thread. This reminds me of the A-rod photoshoot, which had me chuckling to myself.

Girls, on the other hand, I'm musing over the insurgence or resurgence at the side ponytail. Maybe I'm just annoyed that the girls who do wear the side ponytail decide that they really really need to talk to their friends in high pitched voices about what they're wearing to the next frat party and feel the need to share that with the rest of the people who are trying to work out. Or the girl (with her side ponytail) in my dance class who at each and every class pulls down the neckline of her t-shirt to below her shoulders so that her sports bra cleavage can be bettered bared to the world (still have no clue why since there aren't any guys in the class). The funny part she repeats this after every dance (arm movements = t shirt moves up). I know I'm "stereotyping" but I just want to know why, what's so much better about the side ponytail that looks like it's ready to fall out?

Maybe I'm just realizing all this now because of the stage of life that I'm at, stuck in that in between phase where I'm still on a college campus but effectively working since I have no classes and I am getting paid to do my research. I find certain things more frivolous, less important and therefore tend to be more analytical about what I see around me. While I do find that I care a little more about appearance, it's more to the fact that I want to look professional and not like a teenager that I'm mistaken for most of the time. Realizing that I'm growing up and that I WANT to be out in the work world making a living ...