I apologize for this rant in advance. However, I am so sick and tired of feeling like a have to meet a standard to be an intelligent, funny, well-rounded woman. I understand that I may be biased because… well…I’m a girl… but it kind of seems like guys just have it easy.
Let me provide a little background so that I can actually explain these frustrations and you don’t think I’m completely insane: I worked two very different jobs this summer. One was as a congressional intern and another was as a waitress. I spoke to people all day. Conversations ranged from issues with a social security payment to old folks attempting to figure out how to Google search, what a customer wants for dinner, and, of course, what is wrong with a customer’s meal.
I can’t even start to count how many times both men and women discredited me as a woman and made me feel like I couldn’t be more useless…
“Hi intern. I’d like to speak to someone with a man please. You’ve never been able to help me.” – Phone Caller, elderly fellow
UHM, WHAT?! You don’t even know me. You are missing out.
“Morning. I am calling regarding Bill #IDGAF and would like to leave a critique and complaint. I doubt you know what the bill consists of, so I would appreciate it if you would pass the call along to someone who does.” – Weirdo
Uh. Yeah. Totally dude. See ya.
“You sure you can carry all that? You sure don’t look like it.” – Customer, middle aged man
I have biceps. They’re just hiding behind this little layer of fat.
“Have you ever thought about being a flight attendant? You really should think about it. You would fit right in. You’re so pleasant. It would be really cool to be a pilot, but you could never do that.” – A couple visiting from Arizona
Have you ever thought that maybe I want to apply to Law School and become a litigator? Ech. Go fly home.
These examples could go on and on. Don’t I have a right to be appalled by these comments? Don’t I have to stand up for myself? Of course I do. However, I shouldn’t have to. I should be talked to nicely regardless of whether I have the correct information. I deserve to be treated like I have some degree of intellectual ability. I am unknowledgeable just because I am a girl? No. I should be thought of the same way as a macho-man (just with smaller muscles…). And I certainly should not be treated as someone who can’t have aspirations.
This tells me that society has this expectation that girls are “less.” Many feel differently and see women as equal to men. I would disagree. Society makes it appear as if that’s true on the surface, however it is not easy being a girl. It kind of sucks.
Cover image source: Pexels