In this day and age! A thread for unbelievably obvious examples of sexism.

Kim - "I don't know anything about all this stuff, I'm just a dumb blonde"

Maybe she doesn't understand anything about radios. Not everyone can be an expert at everything. There's no shame in asking for help or advice. As for the 'dumb blonde' comment; I think that reveals more about her self esteem than anything else. Really sad that she considers her perceived lack of intelligence and her hair colour to be her identity.

I'm a gardener; one of my customers always wants his son to start the lawnmower for me because he says women aren't strong enough. He has no problem with my heaving the massive thing around as a woman though. I have stopped telling him in advance and just surprise mow now.

And from the assumption of the instructor, it looks as if your daughter will be in the minority for taking a martial arts class! A seven year old challenging the view of an adult martial arts club is a triumph.

Lovecat - Your dad sounds fantastic. Unfortunately, for now, you are still in the minority regarding your skills.

Ooh, I've got another one!

I recently emailed a local martial arts club about lessons for DD - they do a free trial session. I didn't realise until I got his reply that I hadn't specified DD's sex, just said 'my seven yr old' in the email.

The reply began: 'we will be happy to welcome your son to the session...'

Okay [for benefit of the blamers], because I didn't specify I know he had to take a guess and it was a 50/50 chance of getting it wrong, but why not just put 'your child' if you don't know? How is a 7 yr old's sex relevant to taking a martial arts class?

Went to visit a friend with DH to see her new flat.

She said 'oh, while you're here, DH, can you take a look at my washing machine, it's leaking and I don't know what's wrong with it.'

DH: Um... I know nothing about washing machines.

Friend: Oh, just have a look at it for me, please.

We went into her kitchen and looked at the washing machine that she'd inherited with the flat. The seal around the door was sagging badly with water running down it; I pointed this out to her, saying it was a v. easy job to fit a new seal and she could pick one up from a plumbers merchants/B&Q really easily.

She looks up at DH. 'And what do you think, DH?'

DH shrugs helplessly as he hasn't got a fecking clue about machinery of any kind. 'What LC said.'

Friend: Oh. If we went out now and got one, could you fit it for me?

DH: Erm... not really, LC knows what she's talking about, she could do it...

Friend: Perhaps I'll just get a man in...

DH is that mechanically illiterate he literally does not know how to open the bonnet of his car to fill the screen wash bottle. I have to do it for him. My dad was a electrician who became a motor mechanic and taught ALL his children how to change oil/spark plugs/battery/bulbs/fix the alternator if it's come loose etc. DH and I have great fun at the garage with the repairmen as they ALWAYS address the questions to him. I then have to translate...

whogivesaduck1 - I'm curious. Who was paying for the car? If it was a joint purchase, then I think it was not only the salesman who was being disrespectful to you.

samandi I can imagine a 32 year old male police officer being described as a 'young lad', yes.

we had this at a mazda dealer. I was trying dissuade DP from buying a bloody mx5 and the sales man was like 'oh come on now, you'll love it. think how pretty you will look in it, blah blah fuck' i was telling dp how impractial it was. he bought it, sales man gave me a very smug grin.

didnt look quite as smug when we bought it back less then a year later!

TWAT!

When I opened up my bank account here, the cashier asked me if I was male or female. Due to the grammatical nature of the language here, you need to know (and boy oh boy, wouldn't that be an interesting debate.....) He told me he used to assume but had once made a mistake. I guess someone challenged a stereotype for him and he modified his thinking.

I think there's a difference between expecting a person (depending on their profession) to be a certain gender and then being disapproving / non accepting when it turns out otherwise.

In the cases of the car salesmen talking over the women to their hubbies, now that is extremely annoying. I see quite a few posters justifying their annoyance in terms of the fact that their car knowledge is greater than their DHs but even in the case where the woman's car savvy is minimal that would annoy me, because how can you expect to learn anything if someone is ignoring you?

Have only read OP, and just want to say well done, blackcurrants!

And I like my nissan. Gets you to places.

I can't quite get my head around describing a 32 year old woman as a "young girl" either. Can you in all seriousness imagine a 32 year old male police officer being described as a "young boy"?

Conversation where I was describing my new job to an old couple (my parent's friends). he was a retired banker - real old school

Wife ; so, Poppa, I hear you have a new job?

Me: yes, I'm going to work in a bank

My dad (v recently widowed but v proud of me) ; yes, an investment bank

Husband/old fart : yes, it's quite incredible the jobs they give women these days

Wife; oh jack, don't be so old fashioned, women have been in these jobs for quite a while now

Old fart: oh yes I know that, dear, it's just that "THEY GIVE THEM RESPONSIBILITY" (said with utter incredulity)

??????????!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't know that you have had to have breastfed yourself to be a breastfeeding counsellor. I learn something new every day here! A male gynaecologist, a male nurse, a male midwife - would not have a problem being treated/advised by any of them. I think I feel the same way about a male breast feeding counsellor. I guess if his advice and practical help is correct, then I don't see why a male couldn't do the job. I'm aware that some woman would like to have the choice though.

Workmen referring to me as "Mrs partnerslastname". Not just from one company, but pretty much every one we've had in. Not only have they happily married me off, but I also didn't get a choice in whether I kept my name and title or not

Actually I believe breastfeeding counsellor is another as you need to have breastfed yourself.

Ooo, good one Stealth. What would a King have? Men in waiting or still ladies in waiting?

lady in waiting to the Queen

Professions not open to a man: diaphragm tester...

Seeker - No, I wasn't offended at how the Chief Constable described the two police officers yesterday and I doubt their families were either. It is their tragedy, not ours.

Stealth - ah, yes, but women are always the boss in that line of work!

"I cannot however think of a single profession which I would automatically assume is not open to a woman. "
gigolo? :o

The way the Chief Constable described the two police officers murdered yesterday.