I agree and disagree. I think the show 'Take me out' isn't quite representative of women across Ireland (thankfully
, or it would be my turn to emmigrate elsewhere!). The girls on the show are impossible to please and completely unrealistic. I'm sure they are egg'ed on by the shows producers. As for the guys on the show...why would any bloke with any sense of self respect put himself through that????
I think the heart of the problem lies with some cultural insecurities we have in Ireland - both for men and women. As men, we are frightened to look soft or sensitive to the outside world. Hence instead of treating out female partners as equals we often have to be macho and dominant in our attitudes.
Irish women on the other hand, have tried to shed the old 'submissive, stay at home girl image' (prevalent in generations past) that they have overcompensated by being overly defensive and almost maculine in attitude.
It's a pity, because if we just met each other half way, we'd find it possible to be mutually respectful while being co-dependant without having to shed our masulinity or femininity.
Clearly the above is a gross generalization and not applicable to every man and woman in Ireland.
As for immigration into Ireland....I'm all for it!
For one it's going to improve our gene pool and eventually we might actually start looking like an attractive race!!!
. Cultutal and ethnic variety is my Utopia.