[caption id="attachment_829035" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/I have no idea. Portrait of confused young African American male in glasses shrugging shoulders having hesitant and doubtful look screwing up his lips. Human facial expressions and emotions[/caption]
It’s not just the men outwardly protesting women’s rights by marching in the streets, or the ones who say things like, “A woman’s place is in the kitchen” who are sexist and misogynistic. But there are a lot of men who have the dangerous belief that if they don’t fit into one of those categories, that they are clearly feminist, haven’t done anything wrong, and are pretty much free to do and say what they want. Everyone should question their beliefs, their upbringing, how society has influenced their behavior and how, perhaps, some of their thoughts are, in fact, offensive and destructive. Perhaps it’s men who fall in the gray area of not outwardly sexist who are the most dangerous of all, because it’s harder to call them out for their wrongdoing. Here are offensive and sexist things men don’t even realize they say.
[caption id="attachment_723763" align="alignleft" width="414"] Shutterstock[/caption]
You’re too pretty to work here
The implication being that the only reason a woman should have to work is if she doesn’t have her looks to carry her through life. Has it ever occurred to them that you want to work there? [caption id="attachment_704658" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]A face like that shouldn’t look sad
Oh, of course, because the only reason a pretty face exists is for men to admire it. And since certain emotions (like sadness or anger) make a face less physically appealing for a moment, then pretty women shouldn’t have those emotions. Right?How can I say no to a face like that?
In other words, I’m not making this deal with you or signing this contract because of your merit—it’s all because I find you attractive. You just put in all that hard work for nothing. You could have just flirted with me. [caption id="attachment_620857" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]You’re so pretty; you don’t have to swear
Once again, we don’t have emotions, curse, swear and have jobs because we weren’t pretty enough to just sit at home as a trophy wife. We do those things because we are human. [caption id="attachment_620355" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]How has nobody made you their wife yet?
First off, nobody makes a woman their wife—we elect to be somebody’s wife. Second off, don’t assume that we care at all that we aren’t married yet. Unlike the men who say this sentence, most women don’t see their value as depleting as the years go by and they aren’t married yet. [caption id="attachment_695505" align="alignleft" width="500"] Shutterstock[/caption]Uh oh; you’re going to be distracting
So immediately, if this man doesn’t do a good job at his work it’s not his fault—it’s the pretty woman’s fault. Because it’s apparently easier for a woman to change the way her face looks than for a man to, you know, control his damn impulses. [caption id="attachment_713311" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]Bossy doesn’t look good on you
So? We don’t give a damn. We don’t select our emotions based on which ones look the best on our faces. Oh, and notice that men never call other men bossy? Only women. When men are bossy it’s just called assertive and confident. [caption id="attachment_719190" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]You’re totally wife material
Newsflash: every woman on this planet is wife material because she is alive, she is capable of loving and she wants to be loved. Those are the only qualifications for wife material, not whatever nonsense you’ve made up, sir. [caption id="attachment_717848" align="alignleft" width="420"] Shutterstock[/caption]You’re going to be trouble
No, actually, dude you’re trouble. If you think impure thoughts about me, or hit on me, or do anything that your wife wouldn’t be happy about, that’s because you aren’t right with yourself, not because I’m here. [caption id="attachment_608142" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]You’re a total guy’s girl
Because I drink whiskey? Because I like sex? Because I curse? Those traits do not belong to men alone. [caption id="attachment_717441" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]Don’t get drunk; men prey on drunk girls
Maybe instead of women not having to worry about how much they drink, men should go through mandatory training on sexual harassment. How about that? Because you know what? Sometimes we like to get turnt up, and we shouldn’t have to worry about it putting our safety at risk. Men certainly don’t worry about that when they drink. [caption id="attachment_609049" align="alignleft" width="415"] Shutterstock[/caption]You’re just being emotional
I bet you’ve never heard a man say this to another man. Even though men also have emotions because men are also human beings. And that’s really all it takes to emote—being a human being. [caption id="attachment_712485" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]You don’t have to wear makeup
I’m not wearing makeup because I think I have to wear makeup. And on that note, if you do think I have to wear makeup, you’re also incorrect. You don’t set the rules on who needs to and doesn’t need to wear makeup. There are no rules. [caption id="attachment_698081" align="alignleft" width="419"] Shutterstock[/caption]I was trying to be nice; don’t be so sensitive
Oh you mean because you told me my body looks good in this dress? Because you told me I was hot? Was that being nice? It sounds like you were objectifying me. I don’t want you to talk to me like that, and if I say that, respect it—don’t tell me I’m being rude because I don’t let you act however the hell you want. [caption id="attachment_701574" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]You do that well for a girl
So, what you’re saying is, women can only do this task so well and men will always do it better. And you’re not measuring my skill against everyone’s skill level at this task—as you should be—but only against women’s. [caption id="attachment_610941" align="alignleft" width="378"] Shutterstock[/caption]You’re not like most girls
There is no specific way that most girls are. There is no way that most people are. And we don’t appreciate the implication in this “compliment” that because we aren’t like most women, we are better than them, in other words, you don’t like most women, sir. [caption id="attachment_717243" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]Are you a feminist?
Yeah. I sure am. Everybody should be. If you think it’s some unique thing that I believe women deserve the same rights as men, you need to go. [caption id="attachment_619733" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]Women love insert interest here
The moment you say that the reason someone loves something is because she’s a woman, you take away her individuality. Maybe she loves that thing because she’s passionate, athletic, cultured, loves nature….someone’s interests stem from much more than their gender. [caption id="attachment_608418" align="alignleft" width="414"] Corbis[/caption]You know what would look good on you?
No and I didn’t ask you. I wasn’t walking around going, “I sure do hope some man finally tells me what hair cut I should have or what style of clothing I should wear.” Are you running a stylist’s studio here? No. You’re a random man on the street. Carry on about your business. You know what would look good on you? Not being sexist. [caption id="attachment_719469" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]You’ve trained your husband nicely
He cooks and cleans and takes care of the kids—there’s no way he just enjoys doing those things, right? His partner must have trained him against his will.The post Sexist Things Men Don’t Realize They Say appeared first on MadameNoire.