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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Man doing my pedicure

279 replies

eyesbiggerthanstomach · 12/03/2019 16:24

I'm having a rubbish day so maybe am being super sensitive but not sure. There is a nail bar I regularly go to. A few men work there but it's mainly women. Usually one of the women does my pedicure. I have had one or two of the men do it in the past too.

Anyway, am currently getting one done by a man and I'm feeling really uncomfortable. I can't explain why. Maybe because he is slow and so every touch feels like it's lasting ages but I'm not enjoying it.

Is it unreasonable to specify a woman does it in future?

OP posts:
PrettyBelle · 13/03/2019 17:33

Even if you take out the concern they the individual man in front of you with speculum will harm you, you may not want that man heading towards you with your legs akimbo from previous trauma or you may just be aware of statistics or a cultural mandate that women not make themselves vulnerable to attacks by men or else it is considered their fault.

Or maybe I just don't want to have my legs akimbo in front of a strange man. Regardless of his occupation. With no fears for safety. That would simply be embarrassing to me. Why is it so difficult to comprehend?

thedisorganisedmum · 13/03/2019 17:33

84% of violent crime is committed by men, 95% of sexual offences are committed by men.

which is not quite the same as saying that 84% or 95% of men are violent and / or sexual offenders. Hmm

BigChocFrenzy · 13/03/2019 17:33

When one sex commit 98% of the sexual assaults, that's a reason some women are uncomfortable
That's not bigoted

Also, religion and its hangovers have a lot of rules about sex, rarely about race
So for some women it's about their religion

teyem · 13/03/2019 17:34

Did I say that disorganised? Ffs

thedisorganisedmum · 13/03/2019 17:34

I just don't want to have my legs akimbo in front of a strange man.

no one sane wants to have their legs akimbo in front of anyone, male or female!

teyem · 13/03/2019 17:35

What a disingenuous point disorganised.

teyem · 13/03/2019 17:36

I'm sure your comprehension skills afford you the capacity to consider my whole point...

BigChocFrenzy · 13/03/2019 17:37

It's not just womeb who have preferences.

A colleague wouldn't visit his GP to have his testicular pain investigated, because she was a woman
I told him he could request one of the men GPs and noone would be offended
He did so

Bluestitch · 13/03/2019 17:39

It's absolutely shocking to accuse a medical professional to be some kind of pervert and refuse a smear test or other from a man

You think it's shocking that a woman might request a female to carry out an intimate examination? I requested a female GP recently when I wanted a breast lump examined, is that shocking too, despite it being compatible with NHS policy?

PrettyBelle · 13/03/2019 17:39

no one sane wants to have their legs akimbo in front of anyone, male or female!

Well, of course. But if I have to, for a medical procedure, I may prefer a woman. For the same reason why I want to use female changing rooms instead of undressing in front of men. Again, no explanation should be needed there.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 13/03/2019 17:39

It's not just women who have preferences

Definitely not. It is only women who will get other women calling them sexist hateful bigoted bitches though.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 13/03/2019 17:44

1st rule of misogyny: Women are responsible for what men do.

2nd rule of misogyny: Women saying no to men is a hate crime.

3rd rule of misogyny: Women speaking for themselves are exclusionary and selfish.

4th rule of misogyny: Women's opinions are violence against men thus male violence against women is justified.

5th rule of misogyny: WATM! Women and Feminism must be useful to men or they are worthless.

6th rule of misogyny: Women who go around being female AT men by menstruating and breast feeding babies deserve punishment.

7th rule of misogyny: Women should always be grateful to men for everything.

8th rule of misogyny: Men are whatever men say they are and women are whatever men say they are.

9th rule of misogyny: Men always know the "real reasons" for everything women do and say.

10th rule of misogyny: The worst thing about male violence is that it males men look bad.

11th rule of misogyny: Basic pattern recognition skills are cruel and evil when they hurt men's feelings.

12th rule of misogyny: whatever women suffer from, men suffer from more.

13th rule of misogyny: Women are not oppressed! Rape and catcalling and objectification are all compliments, not oppression.

14th rule of misogyny: Women have all the rights they need: The right to remain silent.

Just a reminder. I’ve bolded the ones observed on this thread.

Bluestitch · 13/03/2019 17:46

So how are so many of you able to refuse a male nail technician without falling foul of the equality act?

Well nobody can be compelled to accept treatment from someone so I guess the salon can tell the customer to get lost if they don't want to accommodate the request, and then the customer can take their business elsewhere if they wish.

LimeKiwi · 13/03/2019 17:48

What @Biancadelrioisback said.

GreigLaidlawsbarofsoap · 13/03/2019 23:42

It's absolutely shocking to accuse a medical professional to be some kind of pervert and refuse a smear test or other from a man

How stupid and insular can one woman be? Hmm We have the right to determine who sticks instruments or fingers inside us ffs. We are not accusing them all of being "perverts" (even this word tells me all about your world view, such as it is) we have bodily autonomy and can decide to have a female do medical treatments for ANY reason we choose.

CheerioHunter · 13/03/2019 23:49

Is it unreasonable to specify a woman does it in future?

I know exactly what you mean.
I felt the same when I was having driving lessons and one week a female instructor turned up.
Like you, I was paying, I felt uncomfortable so just ask for who you want............. 🙄

//Sarcasm.

OccasionalKite · 14/03/2019 00:19

OP, please do specify next time that you wish to be treated by a woman, not a man.

You don't need to explain anything. Just state the bare fact - that you wish to be treated by a woman, not a man. Anyone who asks "Why?" or argues about it, is unlikely to ever understand.

NKFell · 14/03/2019 03:23

Anyone who asks "Why?" or argues about it, is unlikely to ever understand. so true @OccasionalKite and this thread is proof.

It’s always so disappointing to read women having zero regard for other women’s boundaries. Also implying hatred of men because of imposing boundaries. Makes me feel nauseous!

teyem · 14/03/2019 06:45

I know exactly what you mean.
I felt the same when I was having driving lessons and one week a female instructor turned up.
Like you, I was paying, I felt uncomfortable so just ask for who you want........

This really isn't the educated gotcha that you think it is for all of the reasons that have been raised that you are unwilling or incapable of understanding.

Paddington68 · 14/03/2019 07:03

If I'm in A and E I'll be giving no fcuk at all as to the gender of the doctor or nurses looking after me. If they can sort me out I don't care if it's a trained gorilla.
I don't care if a vicar is male or female, or the person who serves me in a shop.
If the OP prefers a lady or man to do her nails I think that's fair comment, it is up to her. I think she''s wrong but it is up to her.

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 14/03/2019 07:23

CheerioHunter a driving instructor shouldn’t be touching you or giving you an internal exam. See the difference? What a stupid comment.

origamiunicorn · 14/03/2019 07:40

It’s always so disappointing to read women having zero regard for other women’s boundaries. Also implying hatred of men because of imposing boundaries. Makes me feel nauseous!

Yep we are always blaming men yet we are part of the problem too.

Ghanagirl · 14/03/2019 07:43

@Babycham1979
It’s not the same and your post makes me think your racist

CheerioHunter · 14/03/2019 07:44

See the difference? What a stupid comment.

Oh yes, because it was a male touching her feet. The bloody intimidating sex pest doing his job. Grrrr

Ghanagirl · 14/03/2019 09:42

@Biancadelrioisback
I also have a black son whose is older than yours and I abhor racism and agree that we do face a struggle as they get older BUT I still have the right to ask for a female to perform intimate examinations or a pedicure. I’m teaching him to respect others personal boundaries.

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