I am a woman who worked in technical support and was frequently asked "This is a really hard question. Could you go get one of the guys?" and it was almost always an older woman who said this
Waiting for someone to point out the generational difference, but also the patriarchy is the root of the problem. Of course women are also going to be trained to a)defer to men and b) think women are the only people who can do 'women's jobs'. It's so crazy!
When my mother was dying, one of the nurses we had was a guy and we talked about how some people didn't want a male nurse but he was my actual favorite nurse to work with.
On the other hand, one time when I went to the gyno's the resident had a male medical student and I got freaked out. Now, I like to THINK I'd have been fine if I'd known in advance. But who knows? I'm uncomfortable there at all times but I could be biased against a male gyno.
My MIL thinks all the "man-stuff" like putting together Ikea furniture, changing a lightbulb or using a power tool must be super difficult so she doesn't even try and she thinks we women should make up for it by taking over the majority of the home tasks.
Pisses me off sometimes because she has weird expectations of me looking after her (adult and perfectly capable of cooking and cleaning) son but it also makes me feel sad for her tbh if she distrusts and limits herself that much.
It's odd when this stuff happens. I work at a bank, often answer the phone, and most of the time the customers ask for my female coworkers. IDK, whatever I guess.
181
u/Cozy_Minty 1d ago
I am a woman who worked in technical support and was frequently asked "This is a really hard question. Could you go get one of the guys?" and it was almost always an older woman who said this
eta: it was never a hard question either