Am I going to need a feminism icon? Oh god.

[dragojustine]

- The Feminist Carnival of Sexual Freedom and Autonomy is back, with tons and tons of really good links to thinky thoughts.

- Why This Queer Isn't Celebrating is also good in the thinky-thoughts department.

- Sexism at the Home Depot, part God-knows-what in a series: I walk in to the hardware department to ask the guy- a charming grandfatherly type of gentleman- some questions about changing locks. He says to me (I quote) "Do you have a husband? I can just show you what to buy, and he can take care of it real easy."

*facepalm*

He went on to be really really nice to me, including grabbing a screwdriver and unscrewing one of their display models to show me. Which was interesting and helpful even if it was patronizing ("Now, you'll just have to borrow a Philips screwdriver- that's one like this, see, with a cross on it?" OH GOD), and I'm glad he did it.

I am always amused by the allowances we make for generational differences. I mean, if he had been under 30, I would have been really sorely tempted to punch him in the nose, and I would have walked out fuming. Instead, the guy was over 65 and I'm just shaking my head ruefully and going "oh, bless his heart."

Comments

[fakymcfakerson.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I don't know whether it's because of my physical appearance or what (fat chicks have to do this sort of thing by themselves, you know, and don't have recourse to their handsome male neighbors ;) ), but I tend not to get that. I usually replied (not thinking of it) with a "haha, no, just me! (and if they were unconvinced...) but don't worry, I'm a quick learner/worked in construction/seen it done before and just need a refresher! *charming smile!*" Or, more lately- "hahah, oh, he's hopeless with repairs! I guess I'll just have to learn! *charming smile*" Generally they're aware of women's lib enough not to argue, and I'm usually oblivious enough to give honest answers. And the charming smile never hurts.

And... I think those things come with instruction booklets, actually, anymore. Locks/door handles are dead simple. You just take the Philips head screwdriver- that's the one with the cross... ;)

That reminds me- when we moved into our place, and I was tired of teaching Dave what's the what re: basic home repair, I got him the much-lauded women's repair book "Dare to Repair." When Dave was done with it and his brother Mark got his own place... the book was transferred. Ah, gender roles. So quaint. :)

[dragojustine.livejournal.com]

Awww, cute.