The Words Every Woman Should Know

[Gormy Cuss]

Good discussion on social conditioning differences.

Men discount what women say with surprising regularity. Here’s how women should respond.



“Stop interrupting me.”

“I just said that.”

“No explanation needed.”

http://www.alternet.org/words-every-woman-should-know

[randys1]

1. I learned this from my father and brother, but am unlearning it everyday.

Every man I have ever known but maybe two, are misogynists, myself included up until about 10 yrs ago...

Just like all whites in America are inherently racist to some degree, myself included...same thing

Not complicated, not controversial, the controversy is what to do about it.

[Starry Messenger]

2. Sometimes I just say "stop talking"

Trying to give subtle social cues to most guys that they are nattering on is a lost cause. It must be awesome to be socialized that your opinion is crucial.

[Warpy]

3. I'd also add "No," it's a complete sentence

as well as "You can't fix this."

Otherwise they will be stuck between overconfidence and cluelessness, trying to mansplain our problems away.

Men need to know how infuriating it is.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. I like this man's perspective.

In a highly unusual critique published yesterday, the Stanford University biologist -- who used to be Barbara -- said his experience as both a man and a woman had given him an intensely personal insight into the biases that make it harder for women to succeed in science.

After he underwent a sex change nine years ago at the age of 42, Barres recalled, another scientist who was unaware of it was heard to say, "Ben Barres gave a great seminar today, but then his work is much better than his sister's."

And as a female undergraduate at MIT, Barres once solved a difficult math problem that stumped many male classmates, only to be told by a professor: "Your boyfriend must have solved it for you."

"By far," Barres wrote, "the main difference I have noticed is that people who don't know I am transgendered treat me with much more respect" than when he was a woman. "I can even complete a whole sentence without being interrupted by a man."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/AR2006071201883.html