I hate being treated like a brainless idiot by men who think that having breasts = mental deficiency. Case in point: my trip to the hardware store. I have my list. I'm prepared. I know what I need. Instead of schlepping 20 minutes to Lowe's, I decide to go to the nearby Ace Hardware. Let me tell you-- Ace is NOT the place with the helpful hardware man. Instead, Ace is run by Bubba Dinkins and his band of big-gutted chauvinist buddies. Alas, I did not realize this and so list in one hand, baby in the other, preschooler in tow, I headed off to the hardware store for the following: one socket wrench with a 3/8" socket and two self-leveling picture hangers. Nothing wierd or out of the ordinary.
I show up at the store and I should have known to get back in the car when it is clear that there is nobody else in there shopping. Just a group of men clustered around the front counter yukking it up with the cashier. At 10am on a week day, people are shopping, especially builders and contractors. Nobody shopping means EVIL SHOP! RUN! (Perhaps this is a modern day example of horror pop culture, Illustrated Librarian?) Well, I didn't. I stayed to look for my items.
After 10 minutes of wandering around the completely disorganized store (they could have used a crew of librarians to organize the place--nothing was logically located, everything was mixed up) I just gave up and went to the counter to ask for assistance. I stood there and waited. And waited. And waited. Meanwhile, Bubba et. al. were discussing the latest NASCAR results. I kid you not! NASCAR! Self-stereotyping. (And I have been known to watch NASCAR, so I know what I'm talking about.) Finally, the squirmy kids plus the wasted time pushed me over the edge and I butted in. "Excuse me, could someone please show me where the socket wrenches are located?" Bubby replied, "Are you sure that's what you need, little lady?"
OOOOOOOOOOH! I saw red! Flaming red! I could barely breathe, I was so mad. Have you ever gotten that instantly mad, so furious that you feel like you want to go up in smoke? That was me. I snarled back, "I'm sure that I'm not going to be buying a damn thing from this store!" and I turned around and stomped out of the door!
They just stood there, mouths agape as I whirled around and hauled my two kids out the door. What jerks! And I know that this type of attitude is not unique. I remember being told by a car salesman in CA that "The dipstick on the Dodge Neon is color-coded so even a girl could check the oil." I did not buy a Neon.
Most men are not part of this Neanderthal club but that does beg the question: where do these chauvinists come from? Who breeds them? What woman allows her son to grow up this way?
8 comments:
Infomatrix is feeling a little violent today? The red reminds me of your lipstick when you were having a down day back when you were running the grad school computer lab.
Infomatrix, you are in the "South". You are not in "forward thinking" California anymore. Male chauvinism is a way of life, as are fatty foods and NASCAR. I, as well as many others, KNOW you are incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable. Now, I am not suggesting that you take this kind of treatment in stride. A woman scorned is a force to be reckoned with. So scorn away. Lay into the next beer-gutted, red-necked, hillbilly bastard that acts as though you don't know your ass from your elbow. Thrash him up one side and down the other until he doesn't know where he is, what he is doing or what he said to unleash the case of whoopass you just laid on him. Oh! Send more pictures of Owen and Helena. They are just too cute!
I would have to amend ArmyGuy's comment to remove the caviat about the South. Unfortunately, beer-gutted, red-necked, hillbilly bastards are produced all across this fine nation of ours, Southern CALIFORNIA not withstanding.
These fucks feel like their ownership of a penis gives them some superiority over us girls. The frightening thing is, it's usually LEARNED behavior. It's just one of those things like many other forms of bigotry that self-propogate in inbred morons at home, and they pass it down to their kids.
Laws should be enacted.
I gotta tell you though--that's one place that not having kids in tow and looking a little dikey comes in handy--the hardware store!
Yes, Monchichi, when I'm riled up, I wear red, see red, spit blood...Remember the rug you made me has the red strip in it? I crack up every time I think of the lipstick story. ArmyGuy, I may need to borrow some ass-whuppin' techniques from you--thanks for the motivation. IL, you're right, having the kids in tow did not help put me in the "capable" box for those bozos. That's odd, though. If anyone would be capable, it's a woman with two kids in tow... YES, CAPABLE OF MURDER!
Men think so highly of themselves..Because women allow them to! And make themselves smaller than men. I hate these types you described. I'll make sure my son is different when he's an adult! ( he is 18 months)
xcircman, with all due respect I apologize for my regional slur. I was inflamed by InfoMatrix's story and wrote in the heat of righteous indignation. That said, do not ever again use your current position in relation to my wife as a threat against me. I would like to be able to continue to you my friend when I get home.
ArmyGuy...Ease down, Ripley.
Good for you, Esther! Start young because even with good intentions, society and cultural influences (like television) can really change a boy. Sometimes, in a bad way. I still remember the day my son figured out that commercials were for selling "neat" products. Kids are easily swayed.
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