Sexism

Orla K

I've been thinking about this ever since the tread in after hours about the RSA ad and my other tread here about attitudes to women drivers (which ended up being locked, hopefully this one will fair better but I've a feeling it will go the same way)

I don't think there is any clear boundries on what is and isn't sexist but I do think a lot of people have a sexist mindset. For example lifting a heavy object and someone says 'that's too heavy for a woman/girl to lift' alright they are trying to spare someone strain but if there reasoning behind it is too heavy for a woman well there are female weight lifters so I think it would make more sence to just call the person in question too weak. I think it's only mildly sexist but it would still show that the mindset of women can't do X because they are X.

Also I've been looking at day to day interactions with men/women and I was wondering when it comes down to it what is really sexist and what is just slagging and I can't seem to figure out which is which.
I had to get a punture in the spare tire sorted and drove to the garage and parked outside, the guy said to pull into the garage and I said no it's only the spare tire I need to get done. He said, and I'll add this was when the other two treads were going strong, 'can you not reverse it?' I did get slightly agitated and said 'I can reverse but I'm not bothered and I've it turned off now anyway' but appartly he just didn't want to go out into the light drissle of rain and that's where all that stemed from, so I don't think that was sexist.

I'm just wondering what other people think of this, in day to day life what is sexist? I am over thinking this but I really can't help it.

MagicMarker

I don't see why you couldn't have pulled into the garage, why make him fix a puncture in the rain? I probably would have given a smart arse reply also.

Khannie

Orla K wrote: »

For example lifting a heavy object and someone says 'that's too heavy for a woman/girl to lift' alright they are trying to spare someone strain but if there reasoning behind it is too heavy for a woman well there are female weight lifters so I think it would make more sence to just call the person in question too weak. I think it's only mildly sexist but it would still show that the mindset of women can't do X because they are X.

I think that's probably because, kilo for kilo, men are stronger than women are. I don't think there's anything wrong with offering help like that.

The other day I stopped (walking) to offer a woman help whose chain had come off her bike. Did I think she was incapable of getting her chain back on? No. I thought she probably cared more about dirty hands than me though. Maybe she didn't, but my own experience with women is that they generally care more about greasy hands than the average male.*

Men and women are different in lots of ways. I don't see anything wrong with that and I don't think that acknowledging those differences means sexism.



*yes, it's a generalisation and therefore there will be plenty of exceptions

shellyboo

Orla K wrote: »

Also I've been looking at day to day interactions with men/women and I was wondering when it comes down to it what is really sexist and what is just slagging and I can't seem to figure out which is which.

Well, something can be both - someone can slag you in a sexist way. Not really sure what you're getting at with this post, tbh!

Nevyn

Orla K wrote: »

I don't think there is any clear boundries on what is and isn't sexist but I do think a lot of people have a sexist mindset. For example lifting a heavy object and someone says 'that's too heavy for a woman/girl to lift' alright they are trying to spare someone strain but if there reasoning behind it is too heavy for a woman well there are female weight lifters so I think it would make more sence to just call the person in question too weak. I think it's only mildly sexist but it would still show that the mindset of women can't do X because they are X.

Yes there are women weight lifters but they have been trained and conditioned to life things the reason why women are usually not expected to lift things over a certain weight is because you have a womb.

It is because you are a woman and it is not sexist but acknowledging that you have a womb which you may want to use some day to you know bring new life into the world and out of respect for your womb so that you don't do yourself an injury that you are not expected to lift things which are that heavy.

Yes different people have different abilties, I am pretty strong for a woman and can out lift a lot men but there is a limit to that as I respect my body and the fact I am not a man and that I have a womb.

Sorry but you are throwing the baby out with the bath water on that one.

Orla K wrote: »

Also I've been looking at day to day interactions with men/women and I was wondering when it comes down to it what is really sexist and what is just slagging and I can't seem to figure out which is which.
I had to get a punture in the spare tire sorted and drove to the garage and parked outside, the guy said to pull into the garage and I said no it's only the spare tire I need to get done. He said, and I'll add this was when the other two treads were going strong, 'can you not reverse it?' I did get slightly agitated and said 'I can reverse but I'm not bothered and I've it turned off now anyway' but appartly he just didn't want to go out into the light drissle of rain and that's where all that stemed from, so I don't think that was sexist.

Who wants to change a tire in drizzel not me, and really asking you to reverse in is not sexist and a lot of people male and female have issues reversing, you made his job harder cos you felt he was being sexist when a lot of people would have rolled their eyes at you not being able to change a tyre yourself.

Orla K wrote: »

I'm just wondering what other people think of this, in day to day life what is sexist? I am over thinking this but I really can't help it.

Yes you can over it think it and end up far to pc and making life a misery, yes men and women are different and those differences should be respected.

JC 2K3

Thaedydal wrote: »

Yes there are women weight lifters but they have been trained and conditioned to life things the reason why women are usually not expected to lift things over a certain weight is because you have a womb.

It is because you are a woman and it is not sexist but acknowledging that you have a womb which you may want to use some day to you know bring new life into the world and out of respect for your womb so that you don't do yourself an injury that you are not expected to lift things which are that heavy.

Yes different people have different abilties, I am pretty strong for a woman and can out lift a lot men but there is a limit to that as I respect my body and the fact I am not a man and that I have a womb.

Sorry but you are throwing the baby out with the bath water on that one.

Excuse my ignorance, but how can lifting damage your womb?

Nevyn

In the same way that doing press ups like a bloke does can, there are physiological difference between men and women.
Anyone who will have done a manual handling course which all employees should have done if there is any lifting in the work place even down to a full box of photocopy/printer paper will have had this explained to them.

Orla K

I will admit that I do say things in a confusing way, I really can't help it.

But to hopefully clear things up and not confuse further I will add.

I know there are differences between men and women and men are generally stronger but I still don't think the reason for not lifting something heavy should be because someone is a certain sex, it would make more sense to me to say it is because the person is weak. Anyone male or female can be weak or strong.

The car thing he wasn't changing the tyre just fixing a puncture in the spare tyre, which I was even going to carry in for him, I wasn't expecting him to walk out in the 'rain'. I wouldn't have even called it that, I stood out in it wearing a t shirt while he looked at the tyre(inside) and I wasn't even wet.

I overthink everything, and I'm far from pc. With this I just haven't come to a concluesion yet, I don't know what to make of it.

JC 2K3

Thaedydal wrote: »

In the same way that doing press ups like a bloke does can, there are physiological difference between men and women.

I'm pretty sure there was a thread in Fitness which I read that totally debunked the myth that guy push ups are bad for women. I'll try and find it....

Ah, there we go:
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055525208

Zangetsu

Orla K wrote: »

I've been thinking about this ever since the tread in after hours about the RSA ad and my other tread here about attitudes to women drivers (which ended up being locked, hopefully this one will fair better but I've a feeling it will go the same way)

I don't think there is any clear boundries on what is and isn't sexist but I do think a lot of people have a sexist mindset. For example lifting a heavy object and someone says 'that's too heavy for a woman/girl to lift' alright they are trying to spare someone strain but if there reasoning behind it is too heavy for a woman well there are female weight lifters so I think it would make more sence to just call the person in question too weak. I think it's only mildly sexist but it would still show that the mindset of women can't do X because they are X.

Also I've been looking at day to day interactions with men/women and I was wondering when it comes down to it what is really sexist and what is just slagging and I can't seem to figure out which is which.
I had to get a punture in the spare tire sorted and drove to the garage and parked outside, the guy said to pull into the garage and I said no it's only the spare tire I need to get done. He said, and I'll add this was when the other two treads were going strong, 'can you not reverse it?' I did get slightly agitated and said 'I can reverse but I'm not bothered and I've it turned off now anyway' but appartly he just didn't want to go out into the light drissle of rain and that's where all that stemed from, so I don't think that was sexist.

I'm just wondering what other people think of this, in day to day life what is sexist? I am over thinking this but I really can't help it.

I wouldn't worry about it, you might go grey...

d'Oracle

JC 2K3 wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance, but how can lifting damage your womb?

It can't.

Its a MASSIVE misconception.
(probably a bad choice of words.)
Probably of sexist origin.

Nevyn

It can if you do it wrong, I have already explained that if you are trained to do it right and know your limits you are fine.

d'Oracle

Thaedydal wrote: »

It can if you do it wrong, I have already explained that if you are trained to do it right and know your limits you are fine.

How?

Find me evidence to suggest that the womb can be hurt by lifting.

Gauge

That's one that confounded me too- when I had to move to another desk in the office recently I carried my CRT monitors to the new spot myself- I know how to pick up and carry stuff properly so it wasn't a big deal, but I immediately got given out to by a co-worker who told me that lifting a monitor could damage my womb. If that's true then my womb is probably beyond repair at this stage... I haven't noticed any ill effects.

d'Oracle

Gauge wrote: »

That's one that confounded me too- when I had to move to another desk in the office recently I carried my CRT monitors to the new spot myself- I know how to pick up and carry stuff properly so it wasn't a big deal, but I immediately got given out too by a co-worker who told me that lifting a monitor could damage my womb. If that's true then my womb is probably beyond repair at this stage... I haven't noticed any ill effects.

Thats nice of them, to be concerned for your womb.

Nevyn

/sigh

It is not the organ of the womb it's self that is short hand for saying the ligaments of the pelvic floor which hold and support the womb. Damage to them may result in a greater chance of miscarrying when you are pregnant and as the pregnancy advances.

Gauge

d'Oracle wrote: »

Thats nice of them, to be concerned for your womb.

Yeah, it didn't occur to me until about five hours later just how weird that was.

g'em

Thaedydal wrote: »

/sigh

It is not the organ of the womb it's self that is short hand for saying the ligaments of the pelvic floor which hold and support the womb. Damage to them may result in a greater chance of miscarrying when you are pregnant and as the pregnancy advances.

Push-ups can NOT cause a prolapsed womb.

Heavy lifting, if done for extended periods or using very, very bad form, may in rare cases contribute to a prolapsed womb.

d'Oracle

/sigh

Anyone can injure the pelvic floor lifting things poorly.
Men or women.

Studies only indicate that womb damage due to pelvic prolapse relate to "prolonged heavy lifting".

There is virtually no evidence to suggest lifting a monitor or a tyre now and again will damage the womb.

Edit: I shouldn't have bothered. Knew g'em would sort this one.

Nevyn

A womb doesn't have to be prolapsed or semi prolapsed to causes issues with carrying a pregnancy to term.
I don't have an issues lifting CRTs or changing a tyre personally.

If a woman knows how to left things properly and feels she can and isn't in a heap with cramps then great but the not expecting women to do so is about consideration, after all should a woman have to explain that she is not up to lifting something due to cramps and bleeding from the crotch and should work collegees have to hear it?

It's easier and better manners to offer and if you don't need assistance to politely refuse and take the offer as being well meaning and considerate and not sexist.

MagicMarker

Doing push ups can damage any number of muscles if done wrong. Why exactly are we talking about the womb?

If I ask a women if she needs help lifting something, it's not because she might get a boo boo in her womb. It's because I think she might need help lifting stuff.

d'Oracle

MagicMarker wrote: »

Doing push ups can damage any number of muscles if done wrong.

OP I think this thread has gone wayward.

Orla K

Thaedydal wrote: »

A womb doesn't have to be prolapsed or semi prolapsed to causes issues with carrying a pregnancy to term.
I don't have an issues lifting CRTs or changing a tyre personally.

If a woman knows how to left things properly and feels she can and isn't in a heap with cramps then great but the not expecting women to do so is about consideration, after all should a woman have to explain that she is not up to lifting something due to cramps and bleeding from the crotch and should work collegees have to hear it?

It's easier and better manners to offer and if you don't need assistance to politely refuse and take the offer as being well meaning and considerate and not sexist.

Would it not be easier to ask for help when needed and not have people offering all the time (and some people would take advantage of others offering help all the time). Most don't ask for a reason and wouldn't want one anyway. Even so I'll still lift things on my period (don't see what difference cramps make) but I will be a bitch about it (but at that time I'm a bitch about everything)

MagicMarker

d'Oracle wrote: »

Please tell me you're joking?

Orla K

d'Oracle wrote: »

OP I think this thread has gone wayward.

I agree.

Nevyn

Because not everyone who needs assistance will ask for it, that is why it is good manners to offer and good manners to refuse poilety and not get your knickers in a knot, it's nice and it's nice to be nice.

d'Oracle

MagicMarker wrote: »

Please tell me you're joking?

Please tell me how that can be a joke?

Khannie

MagicMarker wrote: »

Doing push ups can damage any number of muscles if done wrong.

What now? I am yet to see a push up related injury*, though I have rarely seen a push up done correctly.



*sore muscles the next day do not count as an injury in my book, else I'm constantly in a state of injury. I've had sore muscles from hard work somewhere on my body for the last week or more.

d'Oracle

I actually reckon you could do it.
But you would have to actually try.
If you dropped your chest faster than your arms and sort of bounced at the bottom, you might do your rotor cuff.

Or you could faceplant doing clappy pushups.

gillo_100

d'Oracle wrote: »

Or you could faceplant doing clappy pushups.

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2007/12/Faceplant-Push-up-clap-goes-wrong-414794.html

Orla K

Thaedydal wrote: »

Because not everyone who needs assistance will ask for it, that is why it is good manners to offer and good manners to refuse poilety and not get your knickers in a knot, it's nice and it's nice to be nice.

I think that's where you and me differ, I will agree it is nice to be nice and if I see someone struggling with something I will offer help. But anyone who knows they need help and won't ask I deem as an 'idiot'. I find your way a bit too pc for me, I tend to go with men and women do the same work (maybe not in the same quanity) it's probably from being raised in a family full of guys and the women were 'in charge' and did as much (maybe more) than the guys.