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Original poster

AIBU to think that 'patriarchy chicken' isn't the whole story?

264 replies

AliceMaforethought · 07/08/2025 13:58

Hear me out, as I reckon that this will be an unpopular opinion, but I am keen to know if my experience is just me or if others experience the same.

I hear a lot on this site about 'patriarchy chicken': simply put, the admirable notion that women deserve to take up space and not have to stand aside for men. Last week, I was in London, (I'm from a smaller UK city) I was STAGGERED by the utter lack of spatial awareness of women. I am a woman, for context: youngish (I'm 42 but look a lot younger) I found women knocked into me constantly and let their kids blunder into me and other people. I didn't have a problem with men at all. The other thing that I did notice was that all these women were white, and were all ages from young to late middle age (old women weren't an issue at all) I am mixed race. Before anyone thinks that I was the problem and was just out of my depth in London, that isn't the case. I am a trained dancer, I have a lot of spatial awareness, and I am used to London even though I haven't lived there for a while. I am starting to wonder if I need to play 'white supremacy chicken'!

OP posts:
mbosnz · 07/08/2025 14:12

I was actually quite amused today, when first, I had to move rather fast before I got mowed down by a young man, who was utterly fixated on what was in his mind to the point that nobody, and nothing else existed. Next, I had to dive out of the way of a middle aged woman, coming flying from the other direction. Finally, having managed to avoid being trampled underfoot by those two, I found I had to hastily avoid being taken out by a young woman as she came to meet up with the other two - they were all from the same family, and utterly oblivious to those around them!

Original poster
AliceMaforethought · 07/08/2025 14:12

ObtuseMoose · 07/08/2025 14:10

How is it relevant to your story that you look younger than your age?

Because people are more disrespectful. It also, to be fair, could explain why men were more polite, as men are nicer to younger/more attractive women.

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceMaforethought · 07/08/2025 14:10

gannett · 07/08/2025 14:09

YANBU and as a small mixed-race woman who also looks younger than I am, I've noticed similar things.

You're on a hiding to nothing trying to get MN to acknowledge intersectionality, or any power dynamic outside of All Men Are Like This, All Women Are Like That. Many have tried over the years but it goes down like a cup of cold sick on this site.

I have noticed there is a type of middle-class woman who bangs on a lot about how women should take up space, forget the toxic nonsense of Be Kind and so on - and they are always the type of woman for whom taking up space and being selfish comes utterly naturally and is bolstered by their class (and often race) privilege.

THANK YOU! Thank you for affirming that I'm not crazy. Not that I really though I was. White women, if you are reading this, sit with it. Both my post and @gannett's excellent comment.

OP posts:
ObtuseMoose · 07/08/2025 14:10

How is it relevant to your story that you look younger than your age?

gannett · 07/08/2025 14:09

Devilsmommy · 07/08/2025 14:08

So all white women are cheeky fuckers just barging into everyone? Racist much🤨

Oh look a Not All White Women already!

It's just as annoying as when men say Not All Men.

Nowhere did OP claim all white women did this.

KnittyNell · 07/08/2025 14:09

“White supremacy chicken”
As Catherine Tate’s ‘Nan’ character would say
“What a load of old shit!”
🤭🤭🤭

Original poster
AliceMaforethought · 07/08/2025 14:09

Devilsmommy · 07/08/2025 14:08

So all white women are cheeky fuckers just barging into everyone? Racist much🤨

Do you call the people talking about patriarchy chicken 'sexist'?

OP posts:
gannett · 07/08/2025 14:09

YANBU and as a small mixed-race woman who also looks younger than I am, I've noticed similar things.

You're on a hiding to nothing trying to get MN to acknowledge intersectionality, or any power dynamic outside of All Men Are Like This, All Women Are Like That. Many have tried over the years but it goes down like a cup of cold sick on this site.

I have noticed there is a type of middle-class woman who bangs on a lot about how women should take up space, forget the toxic nonsense of Be Kind and so on - and they are always the type of woman for whom taking up space and being selfish comes utterly naturally and is bolstered by their class (and often race) privilege.

Devilsmommy · 07/08/2025 14:08

So all white women are cheeky fuckers just barging into everyone? Racist much🤨

Agix · 07/08/2025 14:06

For me in my local town, it's older men (appear 60+), younger men (appear to be teens, up to mid 20s?), and kids (13 and under?) that are the main culprits for barging into everyone.

I'm sure racism impacts bargers and bargees though. I'm white so I wouldn't have experienced anything due to that though so couldn't say for myself. Seems likely though, cus people suck.

Original poster
AliceMaforethought · 07/08/2025 14:05

rhabarbarmarmelade · 07/08/2025 14:04

I think they are all stoned.

anyhow, where were you. I’ve never had this happen, though my DD has terrible spatial awareness, but she is up North.

I was in London. No, they weren't stoned.

OP posts:
rhabarbarmarmelade · 07/08/2025 14:04

I think they are all stoned.

anyhow, where were you. I’ve never had this happen, though my DD has terrible spatial awareness, but she is up North.

Original poster
AliceMaforethought · 07/08/2025 14:02

MiloMinderbinder925 · 07/08/2025 14:01

You seem to be saying that white women were purposefully banging into you in London, one of the most diverse cities in the world.

Yes, that is what I am saying. As I say, it surprised me.

ETA. Do you point out to people who say that men bang into them that there are women everywhere, so because they see women every day that they can't be predjudiced against them? Otherwise, I don't know what point you are making about London being 'diverse'.

OP posts:
MiloMinderbinder925 · 07/08/2025 14:01

You seem to be saying that white women were purposefully banging into you in London, one of the most diverse cities in the world.