 Originally Posted by Dianeva
Can I complain about stereotyping like this?
I get upset when men say women do a certain thing, with an implied 'all' which is usually ignored. I swear I encounter a case of this at least a couple times a week, and I seem to be the only one who cares. If the person making the claim is pressured, they'll usually admit that there might be some exceptions. But I get the feeling they don't really take the exceptions seriously. In their minds, they actually believe that all women do it. The fact that not all women do what you're saying might be a little negligible fact to you, but I am actually in the group that you're accusing of having this extremely negative trait, so it's important to me that you don't have this false idea of me and other women who might not have it.
I'm extremely up-front about things like that, unless I've already said it so many times that I'm sure the person already knows that whatever it is bothers me.
This is one of my personal triggers, people making gender-based claims which apply to me. I just wish that people would judge people for negative traits individually, and not blame their entire gender. I'm sure there are some patterns, and maybe more women do that than don't, but at the very least, say "I don't like when women ..." or "I don't like women who ...." rather than "[I] Wish women were ...."
I've never brought this up without being told to chill the fuck out or something equivalent. Can this be the first?
I understand it was a sensitive example to pick but in this case I was talking about something that actually happened to me today. I can see how it could easily be taken otherwise, but it's important to know that I didn't mean it as a joke to put down women. I apologize for the misunderstanding, it should have occurred to me. There are plenty of other examples of women expecting men to be mind readers or to pick up on things that other women do, which is fine on its own but I just don't think or operate this way, I am very straightforward and need things spelled out for me if there is an expectation to meet, which is a quality I see more in men than in women. With that knowledge, I wish the women who are guilty of this would realize or care that guys just don't do things based off of unspoken hints, clues, bread crumbs, body language, or tone of voice. We say what we mean and ask for what we want. I realize this must be frustrating to said women, but it can't be any more frustrating than the man you're giving clues to not noticing them and you thinking his is simply ignoring you. Spelling it out, even if it is annoying, is very helpful--at least to me. I am usually more than happy to do what it is that you want from me, but I am just too oblivious to hint systems to be able to do any of what you want. For both our sake's, please just ask. 
edit: I reread your post and realized I misunderstood you, at first I thought you were upset that I had stereotyped doing the dishes as a woman's job. Anyway, I think it goes without saying (or it should) that what I said was a generalization, but I overwhelming have experienced this with most of the women I know more than an acquaintance. I'm very glad that you are not guilty of this because honestly it is the root of a lot of arguments and unhappy feelings and men and women both that are guilty of this aren't helping out by making it a habit. Really though, I appreciate it. I definitely could have avoided this problem by being more cautious with my wording and probably still can be, but I am saying now that I don't actually mean that all women are guilty of what I am saying and I did not mean to put off that front.
|
|
Bookmarks