You are sitting in Cafe 210 West enjoying a drink with your friends. It is brisk nine degrees outside. The streets are lined with trees wrapped in white lights and the wind is whipping through your hair. Interestingly, a man walks by wearing an overcoat and shorts, and the sight of it is bewildering. How can a person be walking around in this weather with summer attire? Some boys, no matter what the weather is, insist on wearing shorts. Why?
The Science Behind the Shorts
First of all, if you’ve ever noticed that women complain more about being cold than men do, you are making an astute observation. While women may look at the image of a man in shorts and cringe, it turns out that men are generally warmer than women. Men have more muscle mass and price more body heat. Also, women have a lower metabolic rate, meaning they do not produce as much heat as men. When those boys are walking around in shorts, they’re not feeling the pain of it the same way a girl would.
Attention Seeking?
Another reason boys wear such inappropriate winter attire could be that it undeniably gets them a lot of attention. Men are given the opportunity to express their autonomy and their toughness when wearing shorts. It’s more than wearing an item of clothing for the practicality, or lack thereof. Men are making a statement about who they are. Many young men want to be viewed as tough and unyielding, even if they have to sacrifice warm layers. In a way, wearing shorts gives them that satisfaction.
An anonymous Penn State student feels deeply confused by the choice to wear shorts in January stating, “What are they trying to prove to everyone by doing that?” Perhaps these boys are trying to prove that nothing fazes them. Perhaps they want their buddies to think that not even freezing weather will change the way they go about their day. Although, what do they have to gain from that? Does it really make their social lives better or change others’ opinions of them?
Ultimately, it’s best to listen to medical professionals on this one. Doctors highly recommend against wearing shorts in freezing weather, as it can easily lead to frostbite or hypothermia. Even in milder cold temperatures, the irritation can lead to skin damage. The split-second decision to wear this attire could cost your quality of health, which is best not to gamble.
What do you think about wearing shorts in cold weather? Let us know @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
