A Sexism Post that’s NOT About Sarah Palin
Sep. 5th, 2008 12:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chargirlgeniusIf you think that sexism is dead in America, I’d like to tell you what I heard yesterday. I was sitting, working in a coffeeshop, and there were a couple of guys at the next table. The one was pitching to another an idea for event planning, telling him all of the services that they were going to provide. I was mildly amused, because the younger guy (the pitcher) was very enthusiastic, but the older fellow (the pitchee) was largely silent, and his body language made him look like he wanted to escape the conversation. Because of my amusement, I sat with my iPod headphones in, but the music turned off. (Ues, I’m bad).
As the younger guy is explaining how the day goes, he says, “And we’re going to have an attractive female at the door greeting attendees…”
I’m 95% certain that’s what he said. Had I been 100% I likely would have said something, but even with my iPod phones in, I don’t really doubt that he would have said that.
Not that it’s a surprise, but yes, female looks ARE more important than brains in getting some jobs in corporate America*. Lest I ever feel too confident in how far society has come, I’m quickly reminded how far we have yet to go.
(*I completely understand that for many jobs, a well-groomed appearance is a must, but I consider good grooming something that anybody can do, rather than inherently being “an attractive female.”)
As the younger guy is explaining how the day goes, he says, “And we’re going to have an attractive female at the door greeting attendees…”
I’m 95% certain that’s what he said. Had I been 100% I likely would have said something, but even with my iPod phones in, I don’t really doubt that he would have said that.
Not that it’s a surprise, but yes, female looks ARE more important than brains in getting some jobs in corporate America*. Lest I ever feel too confident in how far society has come, I’m quickly reminded how far we have yet to go.
(*I completely understand that for many jobs, a well-groomed appearance is a must, but I consider good grooming something that anybody can do, rather than inherently being “an attractive female.”)
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Date: 2008-09-05 06:59 pm (UTC)It has taken me a long time to get over wishing I was a boy. I don't think women and men have to be treated the same to be equal (Although I would LOVE to have big sexy shirtless men enticing me to pay attention to products!) But the same argument was made about black people in the 1940s and 50s segregation was seperate, but it wasnt equal.
Mostly, I just want to be taken seriously no matter how big the flesh bags on my chest are. I also don't want to be expected to fetch coffe for guests in the office. If I was a guy NO One would ask me to get them coffee unless I was wearing a nametag.
However if you really want to get pissed off at the sexy women at conventions thing, look at craigs list help wanted sometime. They will get into details about how you should look. I saw one last week that specified "no Attitudes" It made me laugh becuase it seemed like they wanted manequins who breathed. Just put big pictures of boobies and vaginas, and save the rest of the woman for something valid.