Feminism 101: What It’s Like Being Treated Differently Because You’re a Woman
Jen Selk: “Life as a woman is an endless parade of microaggressions — the number of things that happen to me that would never happen to a man is so high, I’ve lost count. Little things happen every. single. day. Men regularly assume they’re smarter than me, try to ‘help’ when I tell them I don’t need any, suggest that I should ask my husband before making purchases, etc. — ad nauseam. Recently, I needed new car insurance. The agent couldn’t accept that my partner doesn’t drive. He literally does not have a driver’s license. The car is mine and I am the sole operator. Guess how many phone calls and emails it took to get the insurance company to comprehend this simple fact? More than 15, over the course of months. I’m not even kidding.”
Mayim Bialik: “As a hard core feminist, my ears are finely tuned to men — and many times women — poking at my female-ness in ways that imply they are uncomfortable with me being ‘too’ outspoken, ‘too’ mindful of language, and ‘too’ vocal about injustice. Whether it be being told by a male professional that my stern tone in an email scared him (would he ever say that to a man I wonder?), or being called uptight, sensitive and hysterical for asking people not to refer to women they don’t like as a ‘bitch,’ this feminist can’t win. I’ve come to realize I can’t back down when I’m accused of these things, and if people want to call me a bitch, I’ll take issue with that, too, even as I secretly smile at the acknowledgment that I’ve made them uncomfortable by calling out their misogyny!”
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