As I've mentioned several times now, I take the bus to work. I get on at the third stop, and get off very close to the end of the line. That means I always get a seat.
This morning, I heard a man in a burgundy blazer loudly complaining to a young girl that got on at his stop how "rude" people who do not let a "lady" sit down are. I'm curious how our readers feel about this. I took offense. A "lady"?! Meaning this 26 year old young woman was so fragile and weak that a man should immediately offer up his seat to her? I will give my seat to (1) an old person, (2) an injured person, (3) a disabled person or (4) someone pregnant or having small children. I will not simply stand so that a perfectly healthy woman can sit her ass down where I was. And why should I? Didn't women work incredibly hard for the same rights as the "menfolk"? Aren't there STILL disparities in how much women are paid compared to men? And couldn't this mentality that women be offered the seats of men because they have boobs contribute to sexism in general?
I should point out that "Ron Burgundy" was also loudly talking on his cell phone at one point during our trip. Talk about rude.
13 comments:
I think pregnant women should also be given seats.
I love when men open the doors, let me go first, offer me their seat, etc., etc. I don't always take them up on it, but always thank them for the offer. Just like when you try to do something nice, you like to at least know that the person acknowledges your courteous effort.
Did the guy in the suit give his seat to someone?
You have to include one more to your list: preggers.
Oh you're RIGHT. *edited*
As a lady, I say no, you wouldn't be expected to give up your seat. It would make me paranoid if someone did. And, as we all know, angry.
That being said, I do expect to be let off an elevator before a man. Did I ever tell you about the time I got stuck on the way out bc some a-hole tried to get out BEFORE me?! We jammed ourselves in the doorway of the elevator pretty good.
But how are they different? This is what I don't understand. WHY do you have that expectation? What have you done to deserve getting off an elevator first? You were born a woman? Is that all it takes? I mean, I let people who I consider "hospital guests" off of the work elevator first without thinking about it, but I don't care what their gender is. I do not automatically let a woman off first, because I guess I don't understand where they've obtained that unwritten right. Please help me to understand! Maybe I'm missing something.
I always offer my seat to a lady or open the door for her if she is walking in a door with me. I don't do it because I am "trying to keep her down". I do it because it is considered polite to do so. I open doors for men too. I would feel like an ass if I was sitting comfortably while a woman was standing and fighting the moving train. That's just the way I feel. Not every woman takes me up on my seat offer either. I sometimes just get a polite smile and "no thank you". I think there are many non-polite things going on in this country/world. If this minor, and I mean minor, tradition of chivalry continues is that a bad thing?
So I have to comment....I don't always think it's necessary to give up your seat for a woman, BUT on my bus in the mornings it's ALWAYS the younger guys that offer up their seats (I'm talking to the older women)and NEVER the oh let's say 40+ men who could easily do it. Why is that?
I guess I'm not saying it's a bad thing to offer your seat to someone. As I said, I do when I think that person needs it. I just think it's absurd to expect that you will give your seat to someone, especially when that someone is a healthy, active 26 year-old woman. It's one thing to offer, it's another to complain that no one offers. If you want to give up your seat to any set of boobs that walks up to you, be my guest. I just think there should be limits, especially since I cannot imagine what will happen in my head the day someone first offers their seat to me. It will go something like: OH MY GOD! I'M OLD! *faint*
One other exception I make that I did not include in my list (and I'm too lazy to add): I also give up my seat for women wearing impossibly high heels that are standing. Slaves for fashion, unite!
And, to answer Laura's question, Burgundy stood the entire time. Because he's a martyr. A standing martyr looking out for the incredibly fit younger women of this world. When I put it like that, it makes him sound like a letch, doesn't it?
I agree David...I say no when people offer a seat to me becauase the way I see it is that I AM able to stand (like you said) so why take the seat....and it totally makes me feel old when men do offer because all I am thinking is "does it look like i can't handle it to stand?"
I think Burgundy sounds like a creep....I can pretty much picture what he looks like in my head...
The basic problem is, that this guy was a DB who had to spout off at the mouth about people not giving up seats instead of just giving his up quietly.
...Jackass
I think the issue here is that the guy was forcing his believes/practices on everyone else. He would have had more impact if he'd seen a need for a woman to have a seat, had politely asked someone to give it up for her, and then allowed her to accept or decline the gesture. But, instead, he just annoyed people so much that they purposely didn't want to do what he was asking.
That's funny...Steve's comment about the guy asking quietly had not been posted when I commented on pretty much the same thing. You can see why we're so harmonious (sing: aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!).
Post a Comment