Gender Studies or "You just work here, right?"

     Becoming a more intelligent, further educated human being naturally means becoming more tolerant about some things and less about others. For instance, since coming to Shimer I have become infinitely more aware of the problems with gender roles in today's society. I was raised in what could be considered a matriarchy. The women in my family are the ones in control of, well, everything. So, it's also been easy for me to understand sexism and inequality between the genders, but I rarely have been on the unprivileged end of the spectrum. Now I'm an adult and part of the blue-collared world and boy, oh boy am I tired of ridiculous assumptions.
     The question I hear more than any other, and I'm not even exaggerating, is "Do you play video games or do you just work here?". These same people never question my cashiers (all male) this way, they just assume that they play games and that I, as a female, know about video games through a brother or boyfriend or some such nonsense.
     I wish I could just hang a sign on the front door, "Regardless of the fact that our Assistant Manager is a female, she does know just as much about video games as any male in her position. Please refrain from asking stupid questions. Thanks."
     I love video games. I do not attribute enjoyment of things that should be considered universal entertainment to specifically one gender or the other, why do people feel the need to do that?
     Remaining confused and irritated, I'll keep you posted.

Comments

[Jonathan Timm]

Ah, the privilege of not having to defend your interests based on your sex. Well put -- and I'd love to see that sign in the front of your store.