AIBU to mind this comment?

[littlemisscomper]

I nearly posted this in 'feminism' but thought better of it because I guess everyone would side with me there! I want to know if this comment would annoy the majority of women or if it's just 'normal' and to be laughed off.

I was helping my sister fix her trellis yesterday. We were up ladders screwing screws and things when this man, maybe in his 50's, came walking his dog along the lane past the fence. He looked up at us and after a preliminary greeting called 'Now you know how hard men work!' We were both a bit confused by that and just gave awkward little half laughs and he walked on, but in hindsight am I unreasonable to want to tell him to Fuck Right Off? I'm actually between jobs right now but I would be working hard if I had the chance, and my sister is a vet who works an absolutely crazy and exhausting schedule, round the clock sometimes. She's single and does all the DIY around the house and garden, ironically putting things right that the former owner, a 'Professional Handyman', had screwed up!

How would you like to have reacted in that situ? Giggled along with the banter? Politely reminded him it's 2018? Or maybe, as I wish I'd done, accidentally-on-purpose dropped your electric screwdriver onto his head?

I actually laughed at the ridiculousness but then my ex was absolutely useless with any diy!

YANBU. To be honest I probably would have stared at him non-plussed. If there's anything that needs fixing in the house or garden, it will most likely be me that fixes it, not DP. We make a pretty good team when it comes to flat-pack furniture, though.

Let it go!

I do all the DIY in this house too. It really bugs me when people assume it's my DP!

Normally I give people the benefit of the doubt and just laugh but in this case.. it was out of order. For assuming you don't regularly do it and for basically saying women don't work hard.

I honestly wouldn't be bothered.

I would give a massively sarcastic 'laugh' because I wouldn't have been able to think of a suitable come back quickly enough

No point bearing a grudge as he’s not someone you see regularly or care about. If it had been someone you know then I can understand why it would piss you off, but a randomer on the street, let it go and don’t give him any head space. Just muttering to make conversation and probably didn’t think how offensive he was being.

bit confused by that and just gave awkward little half laughs What was confusing you?

He was just making conversation/banter, and you know this. Stop looking for offence.

I'd have said "I don't need a man" or "I can do a better job" blah

I would have laughed and felt annoyed too, but it's how we're socialized to react, and did you really want to get into a debate with a knobhead?

“Yes..... nowhere near as hard as women.” Would have been my response

It's a jokey comment, same as women joking about men not being able to multitask.

I would’ve said “why, do you know any?”

Men put on these male dominance displays everywhere they go.
It is exhausting for women to be confronted with dominance displays and cheap shots from men like this every effing day, particularly when you are busy.

'lol...this is easy mate. Now we know just how men pretend to work hard - AMIRITE?'

I would have wanted to have told him to crawl back to his cave but in reality probably wouldn’t have said anything. I’ve come across men like this in the work place and it can be very damaging for women’s prospects regardless of how good they are.