posted 05-06-2001 22:41            

I know that we have a *few* females who read the page. I was wondering if there have ever been any instances where you have been yelled at by a customer or lost business because you were female.

This is not just limited to females, however. I just expect more females to have similar stories.

I too have been discriminated against because of my sex. I used to work in the Health and Beauty section of the store (more pay and less supervision you see). Part of the job duties was to stock the Feminine Hygeine section once a week.

There were 2 men and one woman in the department (the woman called the aisle the "kootchie" section btw), so frequently there was no other options but for a male to stock the aisle.

I FREQUENTLY got complaints about me stocking that section. The women felt uncomfortable, and thought that me or the other man (who was gay) were lurking there.

I remember one time in particular:
I had just asked the other guy to pass over a case of Kotex 36ct and an Always with wings 24. (or something...it was 2 years ago). A woman walks up to me and says "What the heck are 2 men doing stocking this aisle? Its vulgar!"

When I then explained that we were the only ones available to do it she stormed off, logged a complaint in the office, and left.

The stores solution? After several years of complaints about Men daring to be in that aisle, they have just moved the stocking to the third shift people instead. Over half men as well

I could NOT believe how often we would get complaints on such a petty issue as WHO was doing the stocking. It happened about once a month. Ironically, I am still unable to actually go into that aisle with the intent of PURCHASING one of those products for my girlfriend.

-Chris

posted 05-06-2001 23:41            

I am called honey, sweetie, baby, doll, sugar, gorgeous, cutie, etc. etc. on a daily basis. I have crackheads asking for my phone number at least weekly. I don't have many people who don't think I can do my job because of my gender, but I do deal with a healthy dose of sexual harrassment constantly.

When I was in the Army though, that's a totally different story. In training I was paired up with a 180lb guy to practice unarmed combat. We were supposed to be learning how a smaller person can use their opponents weight against them, but I couldn't even get the guy to try to attack me. It was ridiculous. So I knocked him flat a few times, and made fun of him until he got pissed enough to train properly without worrying aboot my safety. I still kicked his ass.

***EDIT***
Fixed URL.

posted 05-07-2001 06:50         

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bitchgoddess:
[B]
When I was in the Army though, that's a totally different story. In training I was paired up with a 180lb guy to practice unarmed combat. We were supposed to be learning how a smaller person can use their opponents weight against them, but I couldn't even get the guy to try to attack me. It was ridiculous. [B]

---

American culture is fucked up. We can go out to some third world country and kill random people, but we're trained to respect mom and pop and lil sis and apple pie. You can't hit a girl. It's just not allowed (unless she's your wife and she 'diserved' it. Please note the sarcasm here, although I bet that's a belief held by the old sexist fucker in clme's post) That's one of the reasons so many guys are fucked up from World War I, II, Korea, and especially Nam (which gave men compounded problems and disorders for a variety of reasons) God, I could bitch on and on.

Anyhoo, this guy should have realized the fact that he was IN THE ARMY. In the army, you train to KILL someone, the art of combat. My personal thoughts aside about it, his blind acceptance of social norm superceded the concept of why you joined. He failed to remember that you want to learn how to fight just as much as (i assume) he had to when he signed on. I'm glad to hear you gave him a good thrashing, you probably did him a favor.

Before I sign off on this, I don't want to sound like I'm knocking the military. I've got enough military history in blood to garner a healthy pride and respect for it. Just some idle observations due to the topic at hand.

posted 05-07-2001 14:44           

I can't count the times I have been standing at the counter, with no one to wait on, and guys end up waiting for the male who is working with me, even though he might have 5 others waiting, too. I never understood this.

One of my bosses at a motorcycle shop where I worked had a good response to the people who asked "Is the are GUY around who can help me?". She'd say, "Hold on, let me get m strap-on and I'll be right back."
That usually worked, and always had me rolling on the floor.

posted 05-07-2001 22:59            

quote:

---

Originally posted by dominion:
I can't count the times I have been standing at the counter, with no one to wait on, and guys end up waiting for the male who is working with me, even though he might have 5 others waiting, too. I never understood this.

---

OK, I know I'm gonna get flamed for this, but... they probably waited for the guy because in every OTHER part store they'd ever been in, the girl behind the counter didn't know a fucking thing about anything but ringing up items on the register, and if you asked her for anything, would just go up and stand behind the nearest male employee and wait for him to finish with his customers so SHE could ask him your question for you. Usually garbled.

This is not, repeat, NOT to say that women know nothing about motors, or that you know nothing about them. Merely that if you made a habit of going into a random auto parts store every day and betting on whether or not the one girl in the place knew jack shit about motors, you'd go broke REALLY fucking quick if your bet was that she did.

I know this sucks for those of you that DO know more about the job than operating a cash register, but it's at least as much the fault of your ignorant brethren (sistren?) as it is your ignorant male customers.

posted 05-07-2001 23:11            

Male OR female, only half of them know what their doing.

Shit... at least now at dealerships they have computers that can show you a picture first.
Here is a conversationg that is only slightly exagerated from my last experience

Counterman: "Wait.. I dont know that we carry that part."

Me: "I just bought one here last month for another vehicle of the same make."

Counterman: "Well.. Oh... um.. what was the name of the part again? I was looking under 'chassis electrical' instead of 'engine electrical'"

Me: "Its called a spark plug."

Man or woman... I look for the one who's hands look dirty. At least they sometime touch the damn parts.

-Chris

posted 05-14-2001 09:01            

Another time, I took my car to Speedy Lube to get an oil change. A man came out to say I needed a new water hose... Fine, show me which one. That one? I can do it myself, thanks anyway. He raised an eyebrow like he didn't believe me. Bought the hose, went home and changed it myself.

One yet another car, I fixed my own water pump. It was hysterical to walk into the car parts store all greasy and see the looks on the MEN'S faces.... Yeah, I'm sure they all thought "LESBIAN", but who cares... I fixed the car!

posted 05-14-2001 10:48         

Amazon is totally right too. If I were a little bit greasy or sweaty and knew exactly what I needed (measurements and names-like I wouldn't), they would snicker and talk amongst themselves. Even had the nerve to ask if it was my dad's errand I was coming in for. The best was when I went to have new tires put on my truck... My dad is well-known at this place for being a "cool guy who knows his shit." He's even got friends there. Well, I went in alone as an experiment...They didn't know me from Adam and they too were a little snobbish, and talked down to me (honey, darling bullshit) but once I opened my mouth, they kindly shut up. Only place on earth I respect with men who run a garage, so far anyways...I guess that's why my dad goes there. They do a good job, and actually know what they're doing. These places are rare (not just garages, but computer stores and even fucking Target, anywhere!) They don't even get your floor mats and seats all greasy! Enough ranting - I get it everywhere. I work in a damn coffee shop, where most folks would think that's a "woman's perfect job." It's the same bullshit everywhere. "Are you sure you know what you're doing, honey?" Fuck those people.

------------------
One for sorrow two for joy
Three for girls four for boys
Five for silver six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told

posted 05-14-2001 16:39            

It doesn't take a big burly guy with a gruff voice to work with most of these animals, and in some cases, it's detrimental. I've found that being quiet and gentle can get a lot accomplished. Plus, NO ONE can out-wrestle a horse or a cow unless they know proper restraint, and once you know that, you don't need to be huge. It's all about leverage and controlling the head.

I love my job. I have less chance of getting hurt with these animals than I would with dogs and cats, even tho the potential injuries are more severe.

posted 05-15-2001 19:46            

Know what I'm sayin'?

posted 05-15-2001 21:05            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Snag:
The women on the other hand have mucho going on with the condom, cuz it's rubbin' the inside of their vaginal walls.

---

Wait wait wait.

Is this true???

Because, whenever I use them, they end up rubbing the inside of my thorax.