From the moment society assigns a gender to an infant, they're treated differently.
We won't get into the studies showing people react differently to the same baby dressed in stereotypical male versus female clothing. Or all the messaging children have received by age five—before they begin school full-time—about how genders are supposed to act, react and what's appropriate to like.
We'll just say that by the time we reach adulthood, we've been fed millions of messages in regards to our assigned gender.
Like flowers are for females only and any man who enjoys flowers will have his masculinity and sexuality questioned or outright mocked.
Which is total BS.
Recognizing the stereotypes and double standards, Tumblr user snazzy-lester shared their story on the platform.
They wrote:
"...there was this post talking about how boys love flowers too and no one ever gets them any or like cares..."
"SO we were doing awkward icebreakers in class and I decided to ask the guy next to me what his favorite flower was..."
"...he looked at me with a huge smile and said sunflowers and I think we should all just raise awareness that boys like flowers to."
snazzy-lester/Tumblr
From Tumblr it went to Twitter
Twitter user BobaFettish cosigned on that sentiment and shared snazzy-lester's post on Twitter, captioned:
"Now I'm curious!"
"Men only, what's your favorite flower?"
Now I'm curious! Men only, what's your favorite flower? pic.twitter.com/4NETxSyWwJ
— BobaFettish (@_Boba_Fettish) March 18, 2022
And men were more than ready and willing to share.
Men from across the Twitterverse shared their favorites.
Some included personal stories of why the flower meant so much to them or how it became their favorite.
Others shared photos from their own gardens and flower beds.
Black-eyed Susan and Misty's flower
Black eyed susans and this purple flowering weed that grew on the grave of a dog i had when i was a kid. Dunno the real name but i call it mistys flower after the dog pic.twitter.com/uYnCC4FCFM
— Darkslifer27 (@Darkslifer27) March 18, 2022
Buddleja - Butterfly Bush
Probably buddleia bc they get huge and look like fireworks pic.twitter.com/xjaHKRiPpk
— Tom Sawyer last summer, and knows what you did (@TomEastcould) March 19, 2022
Sunflower
The sunflower. My younger brother would grow them in the backyard and just delight in how tall they'd get! When he passed, I tried to carry the same tradition. I can't grow them at my apartment, but every time I see one, I think of him and smile. pic.twitter.com/w1JSJ0BYNT
— Higgybaby (@Kisaoda) March 18, 2022
Orchid
I like Orchids they are very intricate theres almost a strength about them. pic.twitter.com/sgf7sBdu3T
— Andre Son of Mogh 🖖🏽 ✊🏽 BLM (@HausOfMogh) March 18, 2022
Daffodils and Lilacs
Daffodils and lilacs. Daffodils bc they remind me of my grandmother. She planted some on my parents' farm 40 years ago and they are still thriving. Lilacs bc we had several bushes on the farm when I was little and they remind me of the thoughtless joy of childhood summers. pic.twitter.com/nbhioHO8K7
— Doug 'Ash Wednesday is a goth holiday' James (@piratefalcon325) March 18, 2022
Hyacinth
Armenian grape hyacinth pic.twitter.com/bZinywKh1Y
— Jedison (@jettisawn) March 18, 2022
Nettles
Do nettles count or are plants not considered flowers? Not sure. I do like nettles though. pic.twitter.com/k1jx6dkNgR
— Regent 🌲🦅🎶🖖🏻 (@The_Regent) March 18, 2022
Magnolia
If Magnolia blooms count than definitely those. Easy. If not. Then probably Azaleas 🌺 pic.twitter.com/qXNUSCq07k
— Tom Andrews (@princethomas) March 18, 2022
Strelitzia - Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia pic.twitter.com/5LzETTZE8l
— Oehrk 🏳️🌈 (@Oehrk) March 18, 2022
Snowdrops
Snowdrops are my favorite!! They mean so much to me and are in line with my favorite season - winter.
— Svett-O 🎃💀 (@Svett_O) March 18, 2022
My mom and grandmother know how much they mean to me and always bring me lots every winter 🤍 pic.twitter.com/STjg5mitFw
Hibiscus and Lotus
My favorite flower is hibiscus but I also love lotuses 😁 pic.twitter.com/2uVhN0QYyA
— Nick Valencia (@Stuff_from_Nick) March 19, 2022
One man's weed...
I adore thistles! pic.twitter.com/cEtsMxlRSq
— BobaFettish (@_Boba_Fettish) March 18, 2022
Sunflowers, Gerbera Daisies and Roses
I like sunflowers and gerbera daisies, and roses. I actually take pictures of flowers all the time. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/qBJ35fR8WE
— lord evan austin, author (@evanaustinauthr) March 19, 2022
Daisy
Daisy i hope when I pull the petals it lands on she loves me instead of love me not pic.twitter.com/wnbvIFLOIM
— Paul (@middleson22) March 19, 2022
Allium
Allium pic.twitter.com/xPZKYZEVkM
— Mark Lepper (@thelepper) March 19, 2022
Orange Blossom
Orange Blossom. One of my earliest memories was receiving a fresh crate of oranges on my birthday. I grew up in an orphanage. When you have nothing, any small gift is the best thing in the world pic.twitter.com/L3uIpF8QZh
— Russky_Pivo (@RusskyPivo) March 19, 2022
Passion Flower
There was a Passion flower vine growing over a fence on my walk home from school. I thought it was from another planet. pic.twitter.com/WaZGKzuT8o
— Dustin Driver (@dustin_driver) March 19, 2022
More Hyacinths
For me it has to be hyacinths first plant I ever grew now I grow all sorts of bedding plants and succulents every year pic.twitter.com/R5NWgedM3S
— Alex (@Gregz_96) March 19, 2022
Poppy
Himalayan blue poppy. Blue is one of the rarest naturally occurring colours in nature and they're such a small, sweet, and simple flower. pic.twitter.com/fe7sX7pGFs
— Kevin "A Win is a Win" Weir (@StrawmanKWeir) March 19, 2022
Unknown, but a great memory.
Sadly, I don't know the name of the tree but they look something like this. In the wind the petals fall off the tree and drift in the breeze, they have a gentle sweet smell almost like a type of tea. I could sit on that bench in the shade for hours when these things are in bloom. pic.twitter.com/cFx3oHfryd
— TheCraftySam (@TheCraftySam) March 19, 2022
Tulip
My dad loved tulips. Can’t see them without thinking of him. I think he loved their colors and simplicity.
— catlawfin (@catlawfin) March 20, 2022
Iris
Here is one I planted a few years ago… pic.twitter.com/2HYPMJd7j1
— theghostoflittleedie (@GhostofEdie) March 20, 2022
Prairie Fire
I saw these driving through Oklahoma, and found they also go by Prairie Fire if it helps! Learning that they are hemiparasitic on the grasses was super interesting, and they're gorgeous!
— Tricia (@Aerdrie) March 20, 2022
Forget Me Nots
I love seeing so many cool flowers in this thread. Forget Me Nots are my fave. pic.twitter.com/lFU8T4Wr6Q
— Felix Flynn (@FrightfulFelix) March 19, 2022
Asiatic Lily
Asiatic lilies, any color but the magenta on white ones are particularly striking. And their fragarance is fantastic. pic.twitter.com/oIjoU2HhB7
— SOBS (@thatisSOBS) March 19, 2022
Frangipani
Frangipani. Beautiful and has a rich symbolism associated with it. pic.twitter.com/utzFI1qs0C
— Michael Tichy (@MichaelTichyNP) March 19, 2022
Hollyhock
Hollyhock. I actually used to work at a seed company and I would take flower seeds that were supposed to be thrown out at the end of the year to plant at home. pic.twitter.com/dPAY54CCgH
— Mike (@basilisk078) March 19, 2022
Lantana
Lantana. Look at those tiny bowties! I'm dead. pic.twitter.com/bO8HmnBjbv
— Ghosteye (@perderedeus) March 19, 2022
Canterbury Bells
Canterberry Bells. I’ve never had to answer this question before so I didn’t even know their real name. I had to Google tea cup flowers 😂 pic.twitter.com/HKy9Gy7mDE
— James Rossell (@Hufflepuff_Jedi) March 19, 2022
So glad they asked...
As the tweet went viral and more and more men got to share, BobaFettish posted:
"I gotta say, I think this is my favorite thread of all time."
"I love hearing everyone's stories and memories associated with flowers. 💚"
I gotta say, I think this is my favorite thread of all time.
— BobaFettish (@_Boba_Fettish) March 19, 2022
I love hearing everyone's stories and memories associated with flowers. 💚
This may be one of our favorite threads too.
So, fellas, what's your favorite flower?
@LeeMerrittesq/X
@bob_moss/X
@jelanijones/Bluesky
@Aurkayne/X
@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky