Feminist Pub 17: The Bluestocking frolics in the fells and fens of feminism

I was lectured by a recruitment consultant once for not being grateful that they were proposing a role for me that I felt was too junior. Also probably not something they would do to a man.

Conversation with recruitment expert this week: "would you consider taking a role outside technology?". No, why would I? And I doubt very much you'd ever ask a man this question.

Have spoken and listened to a few parents talking about secondary schools and girls-only schools. Am a bit shocked enlightened. I must live in a different world.

Ah... my DD is long past that stage, I'd forgotten. I thought maybe you were involved in something like the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation.

DH just phoned me - he's picking up DD from the school bus, which stops a bit past where he parks. So he saw it go by, and was in a state of somewhat amused horror that it was adorned with a huge ad for 50 shades of grey. It's a girls' school bus too. 'Its not good, is it?', he says ,' normalising that'. He's getting there with the concept of objectification. DD lobbed 'stereotype threat' at him the other day too (she's doing an inter-school tech competition today, held in a nearby "boys' and girls' club" - except on the form it was just described as 'the boys club'.)

xpost!

Personality-endowed transportation methods = Thomas the tank engine, chuggington etc, no?

Did it make sense? Principally Thomas tank engine and Ivor the engine with a bit of bob the builder. Ds doesn't get feminism yet. He likes bagpuss too if that makes it better.

They might not want to be fussed exactly but they won't let you out of their sight either. He is starting to pick up, well he was but have got him off to proper sleep now, thanks!

personality-endowed transportation methods

WTF? Is that a thing?

Poorly children don't want to be fussed over, do they, so your approach sounds about right. Hope yours recovers soon though.

I've been sitting on a sofa most of the morning occasionally comforting poorly child while sitting through interminable programmes about various personality-endowed transportation methods and sneakily playing on here. There are worse ways to spend a morning. I'm not totally unempathetic to / with? poorly child, honest.

Meh didn't work. As you were.

Sorry to do this here but can anyone see a wobbly heart: ??

But it's Friday. And it's sunny (well it is here). That's something. I have a boring day ahead too. Lots of meetings. No time for lunch.

More incomprehensible stuff to read and review today. and fucking BORED.

In general men do get discrimination - positive ones.

I'm enjoying the MI5 thread too

"Men get discriminated against too, you know." This is an interesting one. First, I think I'd correct them (if I felt like a fight, which I generally don't) - people who happen to be male get discriminated against, it's not because they're male that it happens. Second (someone who knows about definitional particulars is going to have to help me here) - is it technically discrimination if it's just one person being nasty to another person ie not for any class based reason?

I liked in the Guardian piece on it, reference to MNHQ's receptionist - 'father of four' called Brian. I hope he's real.

I've met men who are offended when you even hint that the world is not quite fair to women.

I have this particular person in mind and plotting ways of tripping him up so he'll fall over at a particularly solemn occasion.

Am rather enjoying the MI5 thread...

Yes I've heard all of those things too EBear. And yet almost all CEOs and world leaders are men. How they see this as the obvious outcome of systemic discrimination is beyond me. Of course, when they get the response "no one is stopping you from setting up a men's network" it's met with a baffled look - people do things FOR them.

It's possible I'm getting bitter and twisted about this!

The least they could bloody do is be grateful for their privilege. I think it's the arrogance that has been annoying me the most all day.

"Oh, but it's not like it's a working men's club here."
"Men get discriminated against too, you know." (That is true in our department, to be fair, but that's because the departmental manager is a total tosser.)
"It's not like it used to be. Women have just as many opportunities as men. And you've got a women's network group. There isn't a men's network."

Maybe you need to come up with some phrases like "glad you liked that idea".

Yes good idea.

The least they could bloody do is be grateful for their privilege. I think it's the arrogance that has been annoying me the most all day.

I must stop thinking about it or I won't sleep!

The 30% thing applies to interrupting too I think. I get accused of interrupting far more than my male colleagues - they do it just as much, they just notice more when I do it.

And I also need to rant about idea stealing. I had several of my ideas appropriated today - they get ignored when I say them then magically turn up later in the discussion as one of the blokes' ideas.

Can you tell I've had a day of pain and annoyance?