Sexism, then and now

Contrast two quotations from recent Philadelphia Inquirer stories:

First, a 70-year-old man rhapsodizes:

[This is] the last bar in Margate…And by that, I mean it’s the last real bar. Just a lovely place. The prices are right and the food is good, for what it is. Lots of people met their wives here.”

And second, from a newly annointed young celebrity:

“When people come up to you and say nice things, it’s the loveliest thing, it just means that they’re enjoying what you’re trying hard to do,” [says the 23-year-old actor]. “But it’s so strange when you can tell someone recognizes you . . . but they just kind of stare at you. Michael was saying it’s like you’re an object. Like a vase or something.

“I realized what it might be like to be, like, a really attractive woman, you know what I mean? Like a hot girl. It’s like somebody’s staring at a really attractive woman, like – I feel weird that you’re staring at me, but you’re not saying anything, or saying hello, even.”

For those of you who want it spelled out: The elderly gentleman (who I have no doubt is a lovely human being) is unconsciously using “people” as if it includes only men. (Lots of people met their wives here.) The younger gentleman is fumbling his way towards understanding how it feels to be treated like an object, something that happens much more often to women in our society than to men.

The road is long, but every step helps.

posted by Sra. Bibliotecaria ⋅ tagged Uncategorized

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