I had one of those experiences at work that got me thinking about how different men and women are, or at least how different people think they should be
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I totally agree with you. There's so much pointless sexism, it really annoys me. Like department stores at Christmas, with all their "gifts for him" which are gadgets, puzzles and toys and their "gifts for her" which are hot pink pieces of uselessness with supposedly funny slogans about how awesome shopping and/or shoes are. NO.
THIS DRIVES ME INSANE. Sindre just bought a copy of "District 9", one of my favorite films, with a sticker saying "perfect for HIM" on it. I peeled it off in anger. :p
I've always been more interested in boys toys and gadgets than those marketed at girls. One Christmas I cried my eyes out because I didn't get the power tool set, with fully-functioning drill and saw, that I badly wanted. Someone got me a Princess Dress-up set instead...I never played with it.
I know that sounds ungrateful, but I was 5 at the time.
In a related note, I've recently seen a 'Self rescuing Princess' t-shirt on thinkgeek that I just fell in love with. :)
There's a difference between chivalry and sexism. I get slightly narked at being asked to 'acquire' paper for the printer, by going down 3 flights of stairs to find a man to do it, especially as I can carry it up all by myself
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What shits me is when someone needs something like that done at work and asks specifically for 'one of the guys' to do it. Especially if it's just loading boxes onto a trolley and moving them from one place to another.
That was my issue. If they'd asked a guy to go get it before/instead of asking me, I wouldn't mind. Being a messenger to find a guy to do it just irked me.
This is also a pain for me as I am usually go-to man for lifting stuff in any situation, even if I demonstrably have better things to do at that moment. I do not enjoy lifting things and I certainly do not crave the adulation from whoever is ordering me to do so.
With regard to sexism versus chivalry i'd say that there is to an extent a measure of sexism in the innate notion of chivalry, that is you should treat women differently because they are women. I will offer to carry something heavy for pretty much anyone who appears to be having difficulty, i will equally hold open a door for anyone who is attempting to use it. I do this because it's basic common courtesy that should be extended to everyone.
With regard to the being told you can't do something i tend to get that kind of issue but from a different angle, as a guy its more "you must like something/do something/act in a certain way" I'm meant to be an ignorant football loving chauvinist who only likes bloody violent films. This does indeed make me want to act exactly the opposite way as im an ornery and contradictory S.O.B. but i can to an extent see why you'd want to prove them wrong.
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I know that sounds ungrateful, but I was 5 at the time.
In a related note, I've recently seen a 'Self rescuing Princess' t-shirt on thinkgeek that I just fell in love with. :)
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A Chap lifting a hevey box for a lady should be taken on the same level as a chap holding a door open for a lady.
No one is actually saying you are to week and feeble to open doors for yourself.
Its just that its engrained into my head and the heads of my peers that a gentleman is courteous towards a lady.
It makes my brain hurt when people say this is a bad thing and call me a sexist.
Why would you not want people to spare you from having to do arduous tasks.
But quite clearly I just dont get modern society so I have given up any real notions of chivalry unless dealing with peaple I know will appreciate it.
I think this is sad for the world.
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Go you! :D
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With regard to the being told you can't do something i tend to get that kind of issue but from a different angle, as a guy its more "you must like something/do something/act in a certain way" I'm meant to be an ignorant football loving chauvinist who only likes bloody violent films. This does indeed make me want to act exactly the opposite way as im an ornery and contradictory S.O.B. but i can to an extent see why you'd want to prove them wrong.
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