Irritated at comment at work

[Tuesdaytuesday]

My working environment is a bit odd, in that I am a lecturer but when I started here 4 years ago I was placed on a desk in the large open-plan administrative services office (desk space at a premium) and here I’ve remained. I’ve posted about it before but for different reasons (unable to really focus to work as it is noisy).

I hope this doesn’t make me appear up myself. The person who sits next to me works with me, but I’m full time and she works 3 days. One day last week when she wasn’t in, the (male) receptionist asked me where my partner in crime was and said that he thought of us as Cagney and Lacey. I was surprised, and somewhat irritated. I’ve no idea why someone should think that, never mind say it. My colleague and I aren’t Siamese twins or do everything together though we do attend some meetings together. I chose not to respond to the comment but now wonder if I should have said something. He would not have said something similar to two male lecturers or two female lecturers who weren't based in the same room as him.

What do you think?

How have you been conditioned like this.?

Yes I have been conditioned to have light hearted interactions with my colleagues based on the environments I have been employed in since I was 16.
Shocking.

^Jesus.

casual sexist and belittling behaviour

No, I'd save my energy to address something I perceive to be worthy of that label.

I would go straight to HR and not give him the benefit of the doubt.

I mean this. More bonkers than the OP even.

I think very highly of you too. Aren't you a treat!

To the pp that said he wouldn't do this to two men, my dh is in building trade. He used to do the time sheets at home as site manager of his last contract. Had me in fits reading them out but referring to them by their common nicknames (all male except one female plumber) there was:
Henry Vlll and Anne Boleyn (a thrice married joiner and his long haired male apprentice
Two Passing Workmen (two plasterers who were referred to in the local paper as that after making a grim discovery.
Torvill and Dean (two labourers) whose van once skidded round the ungritted car park several times to the great amusement of their watching colleagues.
Once these nicknames were given none of them were ever called their real names again.
There's loads more but can't think of any atm.

FWIW I can't say I've heard of male academic members of staff being referred to as Bill and Ben or Starskey and Hutch or whatever. Its a very individual job. Its not as if you go to lectures with your best mate holding hands. The whole job is based on the personal responsibility of getting your lectures fully prepared in advance and the buck stops with you if you make mistakes. The universities I've worked in have always been fairly formal, pleasant places to work but not a lot of banter.

You need to simmer down.

What exactly is it that irritated you about this comment, OP?

Brilliant.

I honestly wonder sometimes how a lot of Mumsnetters get through day to day life. Its quite fascinating really watching the bonkers from the outside.

I'm sure it was meant as a compliment. Mumsnet's logo is based on Charlie's Angels. I see it in the same vein as that. Kick ass women.

I hope this doesn’t make me appear up myself.

It does. It really does.

"I hope this doesn’t make me appear up myself."

It does. HTH.

How do easily offended people find anything funny?

It must be quite tiring being so offended all the time.

How do easily offended people find anything funny?

I don't know, seeing as I was irritated rather than offended, so I can't help you there. Maybe an easily offended person can, though.

I can't believe a receptionist had the bare-faced cheek to address a lecturer, and a full-time one at that.

Get him fired, OP.

They don't, They thrive off being miserable and spreading misery.

I'm male. A taller colleague and I were christened Morecambe and Wise. I saw it as friendly. OP I really think that this is an attempt to be pleasant and chummy by switching a formal mode of address for a nickname, and the comparison to two strong capable TV heroines is deliberately flattering.

If you want to shut it down, then next time he uses the nickname just say firmly but politely, "My name is X". He will drop the nickname.

So hang on, the OP is narked off because she’s a lecturer and the other woman is a lowly part-time administrator?

Where do you get that from? How very bizarre of you to say that!

No reaching, nor my hobby horse. It's widely considered to be derogatory.

You've got a stick up your arse...I suggest you remove it.

I know, the minions need to know their place, don't they ...

Yes I can walk and chew gum simultaneously. But it doesn’t change the substance of what I’m saying. Our tolerance for this casual sexist and belittling behaviour makes my blood boil, and it’s other women ( I assume) on this thread who are excusing it. Are you all blind to this? How have you been conditioned like this.?

How is this sexism in any way, shape or form? Cagney and Lacey were feminist icons. They kicked severe ass. Harv did childcare. Christine had great sex with some of the hottest men in Christendom. [At the time].

I'm the first to call out sexism but this is not it. In fact I don't think the OP is even worthy of the comparison as Christine and Mary Beth would at least have done some homework on who it was they were being compared to before making a numpty of themselves on Mumsnet...

I’d guessed he was older as I wouldn’t imagine a younger person knowing who Cagney & Lacey were. I’m really bemused at the posters saying unacceptable I honestly can’t see how it’s derogatory. I wouldn’t even call it banter it’s just a light hearted comment.