Tuesday, March 20, 2007

just the man for the job

"what are you doing in there?"

"oh i'm just looking up some stuff online."

"hmm. hey, you know what's a real boy thing to do? take out the trash."

"you know, the great thing about you is that you don't let yourself fall into those gender stereotypes."

"good point. ok then, can you open this jar for me?"

10 comments:

  1. haha- it must be noted that we like to use gender stereotypes only when its convenient for us- you know... that's just a part of being a woman right!

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  2. So would I be perpetuating gender stereotypes by saying that women like to selectively take advantage of gender sterotypes?

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  3. Hey, I cook when the mood strikes me.

    But I sure as hell don't like the dishes.

    I'd rather sweep, mop, cook, and do laundry...

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  4. But I thought men and women were equal?

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  5. Very funny!

    But, opening the jar isn't asking too much. Some guys are stronger physically than we are, after all :)

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  6. i think there's smidge of truth in some stereotypes; this being one of them. but maybe not being a woman thing as much as a using-evidence-to-your-advantage thing, which i think women posess.

    a college fitness exam showed that i had the grip strength of a 30-year-old man and subsequently i grabbed a distracted friend who was about to step in front of a bus and left a handprint on her arm-- the two earned me the nickname "manhands," so i could have easily opened it myself but i made him open it just because i had to take out the garbage.

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  7. cadiz that's great, boys like the whole "damsel in distress i'm so weak help me" crap- good job!

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  8. Well, he WAS on the computer, thus implying he was open to comparison with all males on computers - many of whom should have been taking out the trash and/or opening a jar.

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  9. Guys should totally take out the trash and open jars. And do the heavy lifting.

    I tried to use that on a security guard this week - he was willing to let in the equipment that arrived after hours, but not the guy who was carrying it. I tried fluttering my lashes and saying that I just needed the guy to carry the stuff up for me - I really couldn't carry it myself - and the guard wasn't budging on his position.

    Sometimes, I wish gender stereotypes were used more. Only sometimes. But at least the guard could have offered to carry it up for me.

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  10. I would have carried it up for you Lia. Or better yet, I would have let the other guy carry it up for you ;)

    Cadiz, next time you have two boy tasks on your agenda, offer him the easy one first!

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