Friday, February 9, 2024

St. Valentine’s Day Gift-Giving Dilemma; Beyond "Him & Her": Reimagine Valentine's Day with Inclusive Gifts & Love that Transcends Stereotypes. The Outliers’ Perspective | THE DIGITAL BOOK SQUAD

Valentine's Day Image by The Digital Book Squad showing a rose stalk with petals around it

Guess we all know the St.Valentine’s story, right? We are also used to the questions by now - Is Valentine’s day this…? Can Valentine’s day…? The How, What, When? Where to celebrate or Why not to celebrate. Aint we tired already asking these questions over and over again? Of course for the newbies and young ones, it’s okay to know your history but for the grown-ups, can we just enjoy the season in peace without promoting the gender wars or intersectionalities?

As February 14th approaches, the perennial question resurfaces: why do men seem to have cracked the code of Valentine's gifting while women struggle to find the perfect token of affection for their partners? The digital landscape mirrors this narrative, with searches for "gift for boyfriend" and "gift ideas for him" dominating the virtual sphere. Why this stark dichotomy? Are men simply easier to shop for, or is there a deeper psychological undercurrent at play?

Click here for Best Valentine Gift Ideas for Women.

Delving into the psychology of gift-giving unveils intriguing insights. Studies suggest that men often gravitate towards tangible, utilitarian gifts—gadgets, tools, or experiences that align with their interests. This preference is rooted in societal norms that emphasize masculinity through practicality and functionality. In contrast, women are socialized to express affection through sentimental gestures—personalized keepsakes, romantic dinners, or heartfelt declarations of love. The intersectionality of gender further complicates the equation. Traditional gender roles dictate that men should be providers and protectors, while women are nurturers and caregivers. Consequently, societal expectations shape the perception of ideal gifts, reinforcing stereotypes and perpetuating the cycle of gendered gifting.

Click here for Unique Valentine's Day gifts for him.

But what about the outliers, the couples who defy conventional norms? What about the singles? What about those who were served breakfast and now heartbroken? Those who once celebrated but have lost their loved ones to death? Those who are indifferent probably based on beliefs or principles? The LGBTQ+ community, the sick, poor and indigent? Do these groups deserve to breathe on Valentine’s Day? Herein lies the crux of the matter—the struggle for inclusivity in a world steeped in heteronormativity. These ones have to navigate a landscape where mainstream narratives often overlook their experiences and preferences, amplifying the challenge of finding meaningful gifts that resonate with their situations/identities. What is love if it is picky, discriminatory or unreasonably selfish?

While St. Valentine focused on blessing the unions of young couples, it was more about promoting the values & virtues of love, relationships & marriages over war i.e destruction and death. These values include commitment, communication, respect, trust, empathy, equality, companionship, family, community and more.

Click here for Valentine Gift Ideas For Singles/Outliers.

The rise of social media amplifies these dynamics, with hashtags like #GiftsforHim, #GiftsforHer flooding timelines, perpetuating gendered stereotypes and exacerbating the pressure to conform. Yet amidst the digital cacophony, a glimmer of hope emerges—a growing discourse on inclusivity and diversity in gift-giving. Love stories are deeply intertwined with the environments in which they unfold. While it is tempting to isolate ourselves or discriminate against others when we are in love; this might intensify initial emotions but it lacks the necessary elements for long-term fulfillment. Your relationship needs people just as much as people need to be inspired by your love story. Nobody falls in love and elopes to live on the moon. Couples in love need to be more sensitive, tolerant and inclusive. Of course there are different dimensions to these things as some situations beg for caution, intentionality and balance.

Despite the current global chaos; Russia – Ukraine War, Israeli – Gaza Conflict, US – China cold war, Artificial Intelligence Craze, Genetically modified Pigs with human organs, Climate Change/Crisis & More, we are reminded once again that this rich and vibrant mosaic of human connection through LOVE is worth celebrating. Today and beyond, let’s make the season about inclusive giving. Let us challenge the status quo and embrace a more inclusive approach to love and gifting. Let us celebrate the myriad expressions of affection, transcending the confines of gender and societal norms ‘cos LOVE goes beyond being masculine or feminine. When we adopt this approach, we foster healthier relationships and nurture vibrant communities where love can truly flourish.

---

Valentine's Day Image by The Digital Book Squad showing a list of Gift words and messages


For Heterosexual Relationships:

1. To my love, you light up my world like no one else.

2. Happy anniversary, here's to many more years of love and laughter.

3. You're my rock, thank you for always being there for me.

4. Just a little something to remind you how much you mean to me.

5. For my amazing partner, you deserve the world and more.

6. Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm so lucky to have you.

7. To the one who stole my heart, here's a token of my love.

8. Thinking of you always, especially on this special day.

9. Your smile brightens my day, here's to keeping it shining.

10. With you by my side, every day feels like a celebration.

11. Cheers to us and all the beautiful memories we've made.

12. Here's to forever with you, my love.

13. For my favorite person, you make every moment magical.

14. To the one who makes my heart skip a beat, I adore you.

15. You make love feel easy, thank you for being you.

16. With you, every day is Valentine's Day.

17. Here's a little something to show you how much I care.

18. Happy birthday to the most incredible person I know.

19. You're my sunshine on a cloudy day.

20. To my partner in crime, thank you for all the adventures.

21. Here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after.

22. With you, I'm home.

23. To my best friend and soulmate, I love you more than words can say.

24. You make my heart sing, here's a melody just for you.

25. Thank you for being the best part of my life.

26. To the love of my life, you make every day brighter.

27. I'm grateful for every moment spent with you.

28. You're my greatest blessing, today and always.

29. Here's to making more memories together.

30. With you, everything is better.

31. To the one who makes my dreams come true, I love you.

32. You're my forever and always.

33. Here's to us and all the love we share.

34. Happy anniversary to the love of my life.

35. You're the missing piece to my puzzle.

36. I'm grateful for your love every single day.

37. To my partner, my confidant, my everything.

38. Here's to love that grows stronger with each passing day.

39. You're the reason for my smile.

40. With you, I've found my happily ever after.

41. To the one who holds the key to my heart.

42. Here's to the beautiful journey we're on together.

43. Thank you for being my constant source of happiness.

44. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.

45. Here's to love that knows no bounds.

46. To my favorite person in the world, I love you endlessly.

47. You make every day feel like a fairytale.

48. With you, I've found my forever.

49. Here's to our love story, one for the ages.

50. I love you more than words can express.

 

For Gender-Neutral Relationships:

1. Happy anniversary to my partner in crime.

2. Here's to us and all the adventures ahead.

3. Thank you for being my rock through it all.

4. You make every day brighter with your presence.

5. For my favorite human, you mean everything to me.

6. Here's a little something to show you how much you're loved.

7. To the one who makes my heart skip a beat, thank you.

8. With you, every day feels like a celebration.

9. Here's to love, laughter, and endless joy.

10. I'm grateful for every moment spent with you.

11. You make love feel effortless, thank you for being you.

12. To my partner, my best friend, my everything.

13. Happy birthday to the most incredible person in my life.

14. Thank you for being my constant source of happiness.

15. Here's to the beautiful journey we're on together.

16. You're my sunshine on even the darkest days.

17. To my favorite person to laugh with, here's to more giggles.

18. With you, I've found my home.

19. Here's to our love story, one for the ages.

20. I cherish every moment with you by my side.

21. You're the reason for my smile, today and always.

22. Here's a token of my love, just because.

23. Thank you for being the best part of my life.

24. You make every day feel like an adventure.

25. To the one who makes my soul sing, I love you.

26. Here's to love that knows no boundaries.

27. You're my favorite person to share moments with.

28. Happy anniversary to my partner in love and life.

29. Here's to us, growing stronger with each passing day.

30. I'm grateful for your love and support, always.

31. You're my greatest blessing, today and every day.

32. Here's to more memories and laughter together.

33. Thank you for being my safe haven.

34. With you, I've found my happily ever after.

35. Here's a little reminder of how much you mean to me.

36. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me.

37. To my favorite human, thank you for being you.

38. Here's to our love, unapologetic and true.

39. I love you more than words can express.

40. With you, everything is better.

41. Here's to the love that lights up my life.

42. You make every moment special.

43. Thank you for being my partner in this crazy journey.

44. You're my favorite person in the world.

45. Here's to us and all the love we share.

46. I'm grateful for your love and companionship.

47. You make my heart feel full.

48. Here's to our bond, strong and unwavering.

49. Thank you for being my constant support.

50. I love you to the moon and back.

---

If you enjoyed reading this article, kindly leave a comment - let us have your reaction. You can also SUBSCRIBE to receive updates on new articles or any of our other OFFERINGS that interests you. Send an email to: alittarius.co@gmail.com if you'ld like The Digital Book Squad handle UX/DCX writings/contents for your business, websites, socials, blogs and more. Thanks for your readership. Please look out for the next post.

---

Join the conversations on Digital Books & related services here: Amazon KindleKboardsWikipediaRedditMediumEtsyPinterestEbayDigital SpyeBooksOnline Book ClubAudio BooksSpotifyQuoraeDownloadsUpwork

"How we got hooked on porn, engaged in extra-marital affairs — Married men" - A contributory piece by The Digital Book Squad for The Punch Nigeria Newspapers

  Our Editor at The Digital Book Squad shared his thoughts in this contributory piece to an article written by Victor Ayeni of The Punch ...