Oh, yeah, random incident from today.
Oh, yeah, random incident from today.
"You know what Bondo is? How do you know what Bondo is?" Genuine surprise, curiosity, and subtle chauvinism.
"I used to fix my own car." And lo, I did know what its right uses were and did rightly perceive them. For a girl may use 3M products, even unto fillers and epoxies and it will be a blessing unto them that know her.
So let it be written, so let it be done.
Also, thbbbppptttt!
"You know what Bondo is? How do you know what Bondo is?" Genuine surprise, curiosity, and subtle chauvinism.
"I used to fix my own car." And lo, I did know what its right uses were and did rightly perceive them. For a girl may use 3M products, even unto fillers and epoxies and it will be a blessing unto them that know her.
So let it be written, so let it be done.
Also, thbbbppptttt!
Should I explain that there was also the clear expectation that I would, in fact, not truly know what Bondo was or how to use it and there was a subtle alteration of attitude, expression, and body language toward me upon realizing that I did know. Followed by the benediction of male approval. All well intended and completely unaware of the chauvinism. -_-
ReplyDeleteConsidering that most people of either sex are incapable of putting air in their tires, I'm generally shocked when I run anyone who knows anything about their car and how to fix it. Not that I'm defending said person, as I fall into the same trap of expecting it even less from a female than a male.
ReplyDeleteI know a guy who will NEVER live down having assumed that I could not drive a stick shift.
ReplyDeleteThey borrowed our truck to move, and he drove it back to my work, where I would drive it home. He asked me, 'but how will you get home if $husband isn't here?'
I told him I'd drive, and he started to say, "But you're a girl!" and wisely thought better of it. He DID say, "YOU can drive a stick?"
After I got home that night, my husband, who has known this guy for years, called him up and told him that the truck made it home safely.
Dude was appropriately chagrined, and has been mightily embarrassed to talk to me in the years since.
Ah the benediction of male approval
ReplyDeleteIt's not about approval Anne. At least, not for me. I've just met very few women who had any interest or knowledge in how or why their car worked. It's an unexpected thing is all. Societally, we point women away from that, and most don't bother ignoring that pointer. Even among men, most haven't done much more than change oil and/or spark plugs. Can you imagine Kozlowski attempting to fix an engine? I'd pay money to see that comedy of errors.
ReplyDeleteBut are you genuinely surprised when you encounter a guy who works on cars (or motorcycles - I replaced a motorcycle engine when I was 22).
ReplyDeleteNo, but it doesn't go against my expectations because guys aren't discouraged from doing so. You've replaced an engine, so you know just how ridiculously simple cars and bikes are. Anyone who can read and takes the time can learn to fix one, but who does, in general?
ReplyDelete