# I'm hard pressed to consider 20-50 year old American women as having been culturally oppressed **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2009, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hard-pressed-to-consider-20-50-year-old-american-women-as-having-been-culturally-oppressed/508842 "2009-09-04T09:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 20
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hard-pressed-to-consider-20-50-year-old-american-women-as-having-been-culturally-oppressed/508842/20 "2009-09-04T16:03:54Z")
My parents sent my brother to college, and sent me to finishing school. They made it very clear that their expectation was that I would learn to play the piano, speak French,a nd play a good game of bridge for social occaisions. They expected me to marry well and spend most of my time at the Country Club. From another thread: > [@What Is The Most Egregiously Sexist Act You Have Ever Seen?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-egregiously-sexist-act-you-have-ever-seen/503565/188): > > . . . > > My high school guidance counselor. Argh. When I went to him to talk about financing options for college, he said “Now [Celtikins], you know there’s no need at all of you taking college classes. Your brother is at [prestigious Virginia University] and will be able to introduce you to plenty of fine young men. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a good husband without having to go to all that trouble and expense.” > > This to a young woman who was finishing out her senior year at the local Community College because I had aced through all of the AP classes the County offered by Junior year. In 1986, not exactly the Dark Ages. The really sad thing is, it succeeded. I didn’t manage to find anyone to help me with applications and financials, and ended up just going straight to work after high school. > > I strongly suspect that I would have received a great deal more assistance if I hadn’t had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nice figure. Yeah, I’d say there was definite sexism and attempts at limiting my horizons. Didn’t work though. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-hard-pressed-to-consider-20-50-year-old-american-women-as-having-been-culturally-oppressed/508842)._