Challenging sexist statements and attitudes from people one can't avoid

(30 Posts)
wastingaway Tue 23-Mar-10 00:18:06

Someone I must see regularly has the infuriating habit of spitting 'You girl' as a negative pisstake comment.
Mainly at our respective DSs.

I need to challenge this, but I'm not sure merely pointing out this sexism will have any impact, and I can't cause a big rift.

Aargh! angry

ElephantsAndMiasmas Thu 25-Mar-10 00:07:38

Have you never heard "he throws like a girl" etc Speedy? Good.

SpeedyGonzalez Thu 25-Mar-10 16:38:09

E&M - yes, indeed. Girls like me who once played netball and basketball throw far better than the average bloke. wink


this "I do challenge other things she says, but I've struggled to address the 'jokey' insult for some reason." really resonates with me. You lose so much face in our culture if you 'can't take a joke' - (I've noticed this now I live elsewhere, where people are less interested in sense of humour as a prestige thing) - and that's why the 'it's only a joke/gawd you humourless feminists can't take a joke!' is such an infuriating response.

I can see why you'd not want to engage, frankly. But that's where disingenuous/overt and obvious reactions can be fun. like, you can either go "I don't get it? (wide eyed) Don't you think girls are good at throwing?" if you're in the mood for being infuriatingly disingenuous, or you can use "HARR HARRDY HARRR! It's so funny because GIRLS ARE RUBBISH! I used to be a girl and I KNOW HOW RUBBISH THEY ARE! THAT'S SO FUNNY! HAAARR HARR!" because often calling out the implied assumptions make people embarrassed at what they're actually saying.

banned861 Sun 17-Mar-13 11:23:53


ridiculoussingle Sun 17-Mar-13 13:12:13

Lots of good ideas here.
My personal favourite is to call them on it and compare it to racism. Eg, would you say throw like an Asian? In my experience the direct comparison gets people thinking.

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