# Let's gripe about social inequality between the sexes **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 3, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385 "2007-10-03T15:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/141 "2007-10-04T21:45:02Z")
[QUOTE=featherlou] No, you’re right - it really isn’t men’s fault, and we shouldn’t punish men for it (even if most clothing designers and bosses are men 😉 ). But don’t mistake us; the pressure to wear uncomfortable/damaging\*/expensive clothes does exist, and it is strong, even if it isn’t always in writing or told to your face. \*Do you know what high heels DO to women’s feet, legs, and back? They should be covered under OSHA laws! [/QUOTE] I work for a hospital and our employee dress code specifically forbids open-toed shoes or anything with a heel higher than 2 inches. This includes employees like me who just sit in front of a computer all day. Apparently their OSHA people did find that a significant number of workplace injuries were shoe-related. ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/142 "2007-10-04T22:36:51Z")
This thread reminds me of an incident that happened about 7-8 years ago, when I was dating a rather _ahem_ spirited _ahem_ young lady. We had gotten into an argument in her apartment, and her rage had risen to the point where there was no point in talking any more. Seeking to let the issue cool down, I headed out the door with my car keys in hand. The girlfriend followed me outside, carrying a toy belonging to her young son. As I walked away, she jumped off the 5-6 steps in front of her apartment and took a huge flying swing at me, breaking her son’s toy over the back of my head. I dropped my car keys on the ground, and she quickly scooped them up. Knowing she’d follow, I just kept heading towards my car, and when I got there, I just turned, held out my hand, and asked for my keys. Her response was to ball up her fists and throw 3-4 punches. “Good job. Can I just have my keys now?” _punch_ _punch_ _punch_ “We can talk about this when you calm down. Wouldja gimme my damn keys?” _punch_ _punch_ _punch_ As I stood there, asking as calmly as I could for my keys, with blood running down the back of my head and my loony gf punching me, the door of the apartment across the parking lot flew open, and out stormed a black girl with her cordless phone in-hand, who yelled at me: “You leave that poor woman alone or I’m calling the police!” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/143 "2007-10-04T23:40:33Z")
I think I am grateful for my (very) ugly “periwinkle” nurse’s uniform, required by my hospital for RNs. They are truly hideous, stain easily, retain body odor despite laundry treatments, but at least I am spared the horrid fashion wars (of which I have heard much from sisters and friends who work in cubicle world etc). One bit of sexism I hate is when I tell a male X and he dismisses me. Another male comes along and says X and suddenly, it’s the right path to take or the only solution or whatever. Yeah, I know-I already told you the exact same thing. :rolleyes: Just to be fair: I find it distasteful when women take out their anger on men–they’re not mad at HIM, but he’s “ok” to yell at. Who’d want to be someone’s scratching post? Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/144 "2007-10-05T00:25:38Z")
[QUOTE=Renee] (Really, **Hillarity N. Suze,** you must have a new purse for every $600 dress that you can only wear once or you’ll be publicly ridiculed? You’re being mocked behind your back for having family photos on your desk? Get some new friends.) [/QUOTE] What do friends have to do with it? This is business. As it happens, no, I wore the same dress (purse, etc.) for numerous occasions. And when another woman commented, “Oh, I’ve always liked you in that dress,” I accepted it as if it were a compliment. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/145 "2007-10-05T00:37:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sanity Challenged] As I stood there, asking as calmly as I could for my keys, with blood running down the back of my head and my loony gf punching me, the door of the apartment across the parking lot flew open, and out stormed a black girl with her cordless phone in-hand, who yelled at me: “You leave that poor woman alone or I’m calling the police!” :dubious: [/QUOTE] Jesus. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/146 "2007-10-05T00:39:31Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] The feeling is mutual. We could house-swap. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Except for the fact that I have an apartment! But that sounds awesome. And it might do you good to live in an apartment for a bit, just call the landlord when anything goes wrong instead of fixing it yourself. Might do us both good for a vacation ! ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/147 "2007-10-05T01:28:34Z")
[QUOTE=Sanity Challenged] As I stood there, asking as calmly as I could for my keys, with blood running down the back of my head and my loony gf punching me, the door of the apartment across the parking lot flew open, and out stormed a black girl with her cordless phone in-hand, who yelled at me: “You leave that poor woman alone or I’m calling the police!” [/QUOTE] Wow. BTW, how tall was the girl with the phone? ---
**Author:** ![Sanity\_Challenged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sanity\_Challenged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sanity_Challenged)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/148 "2007-10-05T01:42:03Z")
[QUOTE=pizzabrat] Wow. BTW, how tall was the girl with the phone? [/QUOTE] Errr…5’ 8" to 5’10", I’d say. It’s been a few years. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/149 "2007-10-05T02:04:43Z")
From the link… > [@](#): > > For example, airlines place unaccompanied minors with female rather than male passengers …ahhhh, that explains a lot about my travel experience. So it’s not ALL bad :), but I’d rather not be discriminated against in the first place :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/150 "2007-10-05T03:10:11Z")
[QUOTE=Sanity Challenged] This thread reminds me of an incident that happened about 7-8 years ago, when I was dating a rather _ahem_ spirited _ahem_ young lady. We had gotten into an argument in her apartment, and her rage had risen to the point where there was no point in talking any more. Seeking to let the issue cool down, I headed out the door with my car keys in hand. The girlfriend followed me outside, carrying a toy belonging to her young son. As I walked away, she jumped off the 5-6 steps in front of her apartment and took a huge flying swing at me, breaking her son’s toy over the back of my head. I dropped my car keys on the ground, and she quickly scooped them up. Knowing she’d follow, I just kept heading towards my car, and when I got there, I just turned, held out my hand, and asked for my keys. Her response was to ball up her fists and throw 3-4 punches. “Good job. Can I just have my keys now?” _punch_ _punch_ _punch_ “We can talk about this when you calm down. Wouldja gimme my damn keys?” _punch_ _punch_ _punch_ As I stood there, asking as calmly as I could for my keys, with blood running down the back of my head and my loony gf punching me, the door of the apartment across the parking lot flew open, and out stormed a black girl with her cordless phone in-hand, who yelled at me: “You leave that poor woman alone or I’m calling the police!” :dubious: [/QUOTE] That does sound awful, and terribly unfair. But if I saw it in a movie I’d probably laugh. You know, at the absurdity of it all, particularly the line “leave that poor woman alone.” ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/151 "2007-10-05T03:13:41Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] A coupld of days ago, I was home from work waiting for an appliance repairman. I was watching CNN, and struck by how the coverage that afternoon was literally wall-to-wall Amber Alerts, fugitive child rapists, and child predators. It was literally as if former Lifetime Network executives were now manning the CNN newsroom. [/QUOTE] I read once that the number of children kidnapped by strangers in the entire country in a year is roughly equal to the number of kidnapped children’s episodes Law and Order SVU supposedly handles in NYC a year. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/152 "2007-10-05T03:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] I read once that the number of children kidnapped by strangers in the entire country in a year is roughly equal to the number of kidnapped children’s episodes Law and Order SVU supposedly handles in NYC a year. [/QUOTE] How many of the kidnappings are by men, and how many by women? Not snark, serious question. Also, on a lighter note, men definitely have it easier when it comes to swimwear. Bathing suits seem designed to make women look weird, unless they are very thin and have long waists. Oh, to just wear a pair of surf shorts… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/153 "2007-10-05T04:05:09Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] How many of the kidnappings are by men, and how many by women? Not snark, serious question. Also, on a lighter note, men definitely have it easier when it comes to swimwear. Bathing suits seem designed to make women look weird, unless they are very thin and have long waists. Oh, to just wear a pair of surf shorts… [/QUOTE] I don’t belive it said, but I’m sure most of the stranger kidnappings were done by men. As for your second thing, I encourage any woman going to the beach to wear nothing but a pair of surf shorts. It’s nice and legal in New York state. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/154 "2007-10-05T04:37:32Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] \ As for your second thing, I encourage any woman going to the beach to wear nothing but a pair of surf shorts. It’s nice and legal in New York state. [/QUOTE] Canada, too. There’s some social equality for you - it was decided that if guys could take their tops off in the heat, so could women. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/155 "2007-10-05T04:44:11Z")
[QUOTE=Justin\_Bailey] I read once that the number of children kidnapped by strangers in the entire country in a year is roughly equal to the number of kidnapped children’s episodes Law and Order SVU supposedly handles in NYC a year. [/QUOTE] Out of curiosity, I was doing some research into how many kids are actually stranger-kidnapped each year, and there doesn’t seem to be any hard facts on this - the number is somewhere between 300 and 300,000. Basically, pick any number you like - someone somewhere will be using that as a statistic. 😕 I know that I personally do not know of anyone who has ever had a kidnapped child, or even an attempted kidnapping, for all the scare journalism on this subject. I do know someone whose kid was killed in a party fight. I also know of a kid who was killed riding an ATV. My own sister died of cancer at four. For what these anecdotes are worth. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/156 "2007-10-05T14:44:14Z")
[QUOTE=Hilarity N. Suze] That does sound awful, and terribly unfair. But if I saw it in a movie I’d probably laugh. You know, at the absurdity of it all, particularly the line “leave that poor woman alone.” [/QUOTE] While that particularly story does sound especially twisted and I hate the double standard, I’ve stepped in several times when a guy was abusing his wife/girlfriend in public (holding keys up to her face, twisting her arm and yelling, etc.) when it was clear that not a fucking soul was going to stop him. Once the guy and girl couldn’t have been mor ethan 15. It still kills me that I didn’t make her call a friend or walk her home. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/157 "2007-10-05T15:30:10Z")
[QUOTE=starryspice] Just to clarify, I don’t mean to say that woman-on-man violence is actually funny. I was trying to clarify why I believe woman-on-man violence is seen as being acceptable to laugh at: because the woman is seen as harmless. Obviously this is not always (or ever?) the case in real life. [/QUOTE] Part of this is the fact that men getting beat up has been a staple of movie comedy for over a century. If it were a man hitting another man in the crotch, or throwing something at his head, no one would say, “Why is this funny?” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/158 "2007-10-05T16:33:22Z")
There’s an article right now on Sympatco about ‘Ageing Hotties.’ The male celeb in the main pic? Harrison Ford (64 years young). The female? Michelle Pfeiffer. She’s 49. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/159 "2007-10-05T16:45:11Z")
I’ve not checked all four pages of this thread, but… What’s up with women cow-orkers prodding me in the guts and saying, “You’re getting fat!”? If I did that to them, I’d have all manner of PC hell rained down upon me from a great height by the HR dept (and potentially even the cops). I’m not uptight about this. I _am_ a fat bastard, and I laugh it off. But on an intellectual level, it’s annoying that it’s somehow my _role_ to laugh it off, but it wouldn’t be were the situation reversed. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385/160 "2007-10-05T16:56:50Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] What’s up with women cow-orkers prodding me in the guts and saying, “You’re getting fat!”? [/QUOTE] Huh? How is that acceptable behavior towards a coworker of either gender? That’s really downright rude, and something up with which I would not put. Touching your stomach at all is way out of line. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-gripe-about-social-inequality-between-the-sexes/421385.md?page=9)