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

Taking - it's awful because their attitude is just as offensive to your assistant as it is to you, and women. The idea that what, the job is beneath him, because he is a man? Offensive to women, and to men!

So I complained to Wagamamas. They tried to phone me but I missed it and was too nervous to phone back

They've now written to me to say they've spoken to all the staff and have reminded them that they should ask whose card it is and not assume.

A small victory?

drjohnsonscat I've already had to point out that there is no need for him to sit in the main office, he can sit in reception as every other temp has.
And no, it won't be weird for people to see - shock- a guy on reception.

Congratulations Weather

Weather congratulations

I'm only 9+3 so haven't admitted it formally yet - this conversation happened long before I was even pregnant! And we're military so it's more a case of several months without DC, so I can sort of understand the comments about feeling differently about leaving them, but the fact that they haven't said it to DH (who is probably more excited than me about DC1!) is the bit that annoys me.

Snatch - yes, will be sending exactly that sort of email. Also looking forward to telling them that, under the new maternity/paternity shared leave thing, I'll be taking the first 6 months off and DH will then have the next 6 off. Can see that one going down like a shit sandwich, but it's in our T&Cs that we can :)

In fairness, it makes me feel very awkward when anyone serves me. Which is stupid I know. I'd probably be less bothered by a man doing it though.

I have a male PA (who is great). I have to encourage others to allow him to serve teas to guests at meetings. Somehow it makes them uncomfortable.

Weather how about an email "As per our discussions on XX september, I am writing to confirm that after my return from maternity leave, XX will be happening." Then any further comments you can refer them back to your email.

Yesterday... only fucking yesterday, one of the Partners where I worked was incredulous because the temp I've hired as an office junior to do the lunch runs, make the tea etc is a guy.
Him - You can't have a male secretary, that's ridiculous
Me - He's not going to be a PA, he's doing the jobs that you said we needed someone for. Keeping an eye on the kitchen, grabbing the lunches etc
Him - surely we should have got a chick for that.

A chick!!!!!!
And now because I refused to back down and look for another candidate, the new guy (who hasn't even started yet!) is being referred to as my "toy boy".

I want to smack the Partner. As I explained to our (female) C.O.O., I don't expect to change his caveman attitude but I do expect him to know what he should and shouldn't say in the workplace.

And for the record, I'd love to change his attitude but one step at a time. This guys is also very proud that he has never changed a nappy and his child is 16 months old. He thinks it makes him more of a man.
My eyeballs hurt from rolling my eyes so much.

Yes you will feel differently when you have a baby - you'll be even keener to get away and will probably have to fight off DH over who gets to do the overnight stays in a hotel . Nothing better imho than a baby at home being looked after while you are in a hotel with peace and quiet and breakfast alone.

Weather I get the same reaction...

'Your DH is doing some childcare... that's awfully kind of him'

err... no... that's just him being a parent!

and on that note... Progress

ahh Weather you'll feel differently when the baby is born...

only joking, sorry

Ah weather you didn't understand, obviously you need to make a different decision..

DH and I work for the same organisation and both travel. If we have children, they will make sure that only one of us goes away so that there's one available to provide childcare. We've already agreed that after DC1 is born, I'll carry on going away and he'll stay at home (not least because he's been away most of the past 10 years and is utterly fed up of it, whereas I've had it pretty easy). Every time I mention this in a formal context, I'm told "You'll feel differently about your career once you have babies" (well yes, probably - but you're not saying this to DH are you?). Last time I was told "You and DH need to sit down and make a decision over who carries on going away." WE HAVE!!! I JUST TOLD YOU WHAT IT WAS!!! Just because it's not the answer you want/expect doesn't mean it isn't the answer. Grrrr.

oops sorry, not sure what happened, it's this one

Infinity your link is broken...

No one is replying to my thread so I thought this would be the place to link it - "news" item on local radio station about mums having to get organised so they don't crash into all those men driving perfectly to work.

Pfft and Belfast I just checked Twitter and Tesco are going to change all signs by Oct 15. They have already done it in the one near me so didnt realise it wasn't everywhere!

Well if you're offended by it you should probably leave mumsnet altogether tbf as it's used pretty frequently. I recently saw a fb status that said, "I would call you a cunt but you haven't got the warmth or depth" which I found hilarious... had to work it in to my name some how.

Idcal - because you went to enormous lengths to include a (in my opinion) hardcore swear word in your NN and I wondered if your essex DH was offended. I find it offensive, because it's one of the few words that still shock me now (in my old age).

sorry, I realise that waffle was a complete tangent and nothing to do with the article....

I wonder if that's the reason why my careers advisor at school was reluctant to listen to me with my career choice, Hazle.

I wanted to carry on and do A-levels because I wanted to be an engineer. For some reason, I was told that it was a bad idea to do maths and physics and German at A-Level as it narrowed my options. I wanted to include German because Germany was, at the time, the forefront of engineering in the world - everything was designed there, and I decided that if I wanted to be an engineer, it made most sense to speak the language of engineering.

I can't remember exactly what happened then, but I'm sure I was being led in the direction of doing a vocational course or apprenticeship in order to be an engineer [guffaw]
Obviously, the only career in engineering was car mechanic...

I was rung as soon as my GCSEs were over by a woman from the YTS trying to sign me up for "engineering".
(desperate to get girls into engineering)
I didn't want that kind of engineering - I wanted the proper stuff!!