to think that if a man said"I can't drive on motorways" or"I never answer the door if I'm home alone" or "I don' t know where the trip switch is" or "I can't update the operating system on my computer

[seeker]

... or any other basic life skill people would point and laugh?

So why doesn't the same apply to women? Why are women still expected and encouraged to being pathetic, and applauded when they are?

And why are women who aren't often regarded with suspicion?

Hmm, well. This employment case found that 'there was no evidence that a requirement to use a computer put people aged 55 at a particular disadvantage compared to younger employees'. I've also found a Scottish study conducted by Dundee university (which I can't link to for some reason) which showed that 90 per cent of the respondents aged between 50 and 64 were frequent computer users (the usage does drop after that, certainly). And interestingly, national statistics across the UK for 2006, looking at frequency of internet use, do show a lower rate for people aged 55 to 64 - only 49 per cent used the internet 'every day or almost every day' but the rate for younger people was only 63 per cent or so.

Hi Seeker,

Interesting question, but seriously who points a finger and laughs these days?

Perhaps people I engage with on a both personal as well as business basis are well mannered and very helpful to anyone who knows less in a certain area.

Going back to your question most women know where the trip switch is or how to deal with a blocked pipes in the kitchen or if they don't they WILL work it out if their man wasn't on a horizon for a while BUT it is easier to use a man:)

I CAN disconnect and connect back again all the leads etx behind my TV, Video etc - BUT my BF looks soo sexy when he does it:) :) :)

With regards to opening your front door to a stranger I saw a very interesting post (below) on the following website [http://ask.metafilter.com/125657/When-should-a-woman-home-alone-answer-the-door-to-strangers] and I couldn't agree more:

"If you don't feel comfortable answering the door, regardless of what type of neighbourhood you live in, you shouldn't feel like you have to answer the door. It's your house, and unless you're expecting a visitor or a package delivery, there's really no reason to feel that you MUST answer the door. My mom and I never answer the door when someone knocks because 1) we're rarely expecting anyone; 2) neighbours know to call instead of just come over; and 3) we're not interested in buying anything, making donations, or talking to people with clipboards, etc. We don't answer the door more for those reasons than out of fear. Bad things can happen anywhere (urban, suburban, and rural areas).. I guess, I would say, if you have contact with neighbours or friends who might pop over without calling first and you don't want to miss their visits, tell them that you'd prefer them to call first, knock on the door in a distinctive way so you know to answer, or to call 'it's so-and-so' as they're knocking. Just as bad things can happen, but they usually won't, someone could be knocking on the door with an emergency, but they're probably not. I mean, you're probably not missing anything important by not answering. And, they can always leave their pamphlets or whatever it is they're looking to pass on."

ALCS

Even if they have only used the computer for quarter of their working life that can be longer than the whole working life of someone much younger.

The 'older generation' have had to adapt to more changes than those in their thirties ever will. My DM born 1929, has gone from gas lighting (literally), being evacuated and an outside toilet etc, to ending her offical working life inputting information onto computer, she then went to work as a lollypop lady and had to go through CRB checks and H+S training. She grew up in a typical working class family yet married twice, both to non British men. She has travelled and like many of her generations has tried various jobs because they were so easy to get. All pensions are now paid through bank accounts to many who 'banked' their money under the mattress. My GM never learned to drive but the tales of her bringing her DC's up alone during the 1930's beat that hands down as an example of an empowered woman.

We often do not apprieciate that enough and are to quick to sneer.

"sorry ilovedora27 no I meant your life sounds quite uneventful cos you're not nervous of walking home alone at 3 in the morning or answering your door to strangers when alone. some of us have led more eventful lives that have taught us that caution is sometimes wiser than regret. nothing wrong with having led a charmed and innocent life, sounds quite nice."

There are those of us who have not led charmed and innocent lives, but have made a conscious decision not to be cowed by the bad stuff that has happened or allow it to skew our view of human nature. Or to let our lives be constrained by the 'bad guys" thereby handing them victory on a plate.

I am not going to be a victim for anyone!
I can see now why sometimes I have knocked on a door and someone has quite clearly been in and not answered. I call it rude.

I agree with Birdsgottafly. I don't think that we will ever have as much change as people born towards the beginning of the 20th century. My mother was born in 1920s. She didn't drive until she was in her 50's but she then did motorways- the lot. She couldn't swim, having tried to learn lots of times- but been traumatised by being ducked by a friend as a DC-but she finally conquered it in her 60's. Now that she is in her 80's I can't get her to show any interest in the computer, she can't see the need and thinks it a time waster. However, if I emigrated to Australia I think she would-just to keep in touch with email and Skype.

It is nothing to do with age or being a woman, it is attitude. My brother went through a stressful time and couldn't drive on the motorway for a while. He told people. Women's make up makes them more likely to talk about things-so they will say.

You do need to take precautions. I was single again in my 30's so I went to self defense classes-it seemed much more sensible than saying 'I can't go out at night-I can't answer the door'.

or maybe people should be able to decide what they do about their own front door and whether they get a taxi home or lift from friend rather than walking back at 3am by themselves rather than having other people think it is some kind of weird 'lifeskill' you have to have? I would say I was pretty much as far from a 'victim' as you could imagine a person to be, I choose to be cautious - my choice.

I'm a kickboxer and I still wouldn't choose to walk home alone at three am, which is not to say I disapprove of other people doing it either, but neither do I think it is some kind of amazing statement of independence.
i did answer my door today three times. it was
1 someone wanting me to change gas
2 someone doing a survey
3 the postman with a parcel for next door

can't say I feel empowered, more pestered

I agree in principle but I think your examples are flawed. Some people (OK, women more than men, perhaps) are terrified to drive on the motorway. They just are . And some prefer not to answer the door while at home alone of an evening because they are scared to. I would not be able to repel an attacker. My DH probably could.

However, I have yet to meet any woman scared to find/operate their trip switch or who's terrified of updating their OS. I do know a few who persist in the 'that's what I keep a man for' mentality.

(Spot the person who avoids driving whenever possible but who knows how to change a tyre.)