I don’t know much about electronics. I rely on my baby brother for that. He lives five minutes away, is nine inches taller, thirty kilos heavier, built like a teddy bear, and gives the greatest hugs. So when he told me that my TV needed an upgrade I agreed.

I called the TV people to ask about it, and they said they had none in stock. I explained that they had recently upgraded my brother’s, and that he had asked me to call them. They said no, I must be mistaken, and that unless my TV was broken, they couldn’t help me. I offered to have my child break the TV then call them back, and they laughed it off before hanging up.

A few weeks before that, my brother needed to replace his remote control. When he went to the TV shop, they gave him a free upgrade instead. So naturally, when my remote went wonky, I wanted the same deal. The first technician I talked to offered to sell me a remote for 1,200, which I thought was excessive.

He took my number to deliver said remote but never called. So I found a second technician who rummaged in his kit lockers and gave me five dust-coated remotes to test, instructing me to bring back the ones that didn’t work. A few seconds later, he changed his mind and decided to come to my house and test the remotes himself.

Um ... okay.
Um … okay.

I suppose I felt wary, and just a tad offended. So I joked – loud enough for his pals to hear – that my house was only five minutes away, and that I wouldn’t want to steal his remote control anyway. His TV maybe, but not his remote. It was my way of being safe, making sure everyone knew exactly where we were going.

Anyway, he ended up charging me 2K for a ‘new’ remote which looked older than my wonky one. When baby brother saw the new remote, he asked why I didn’t just get the upgrade. I told him they had refused, so he smiled and said, ‘Let me handle it.’ Two days later, the technicians were on their way to my house.

As it turns out, baby brother had told them exactly what time to show up, but they decided his timing wasn’t convenient. So instead of calling him, they called me and kicked up a fuss. They have pulled similar stunts before, so baby brother said, ‘If they call you, tell them to call me.’ So I said listen guys. Who have you been dealing with? Can you please call him and tell him what you just told me?

I don’t know how that discussion went, but when I got home from work, I had a brand new TV upgrade, though they did take away my 2K remote and its brand new Energizer batteries. (Those things cost money people!) They replaced my batteries with a generic pair that I suspect will die after two days. Time will tell.

181774

As I admired my pretty new electronic thingies, I casually wondered why they had refused my upgrade request yet they accepted my brother’s. My daughter said, ‘Because he’s a man and you’re a woman.’ She’s 12.

I identify as a feminist, and I recognise that in many ways, this is a man’s world. I teach my child that she can do and be whatever she wants to be, and it saddens me that the world teaches her otherwise. I’m sad that she can already see how things work, that sometimes – many times – her desires, opinions, and space is considered less valid, simply because she is a woman.

I’m glad she learned another lesson though. She learned that even though there are men in the world who will belittle her for being a woman, there are other men who recognise that, and step in to help. It’s awesome that men like that exist. We’re honoured to have one in our lives. And I’m glad that as my baby grows up and defines her taste in men, her uncle will be a massive part of that template.

♫ No matta what ♫ Toya ♫

106 thoughts on “Sexism, feminism, and good men

  1. I just want to tell you that I am beginner to blogging and site-building and actually savored you’re web page. Very likely I’m likely to bookmark your blog . You amazingly have wonderful articles and reviews. Cheers for revealing your website page.

  2. Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks

  3. Hiya, I am really glad I’ve found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually annoying. A good web site with interesting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this web site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.

  4. Greetings from Los angeles! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the information you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, amazing blog!

  5. Great weblog right here! Additionally your site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I am getting your associate hyperlink on your host? I desire my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  6. Hey very nice blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m happy to search out a lot of helpful information right here within the post, we’d like develop extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing.

  7. hello there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise some technical issues using this website, since I experienced to reload the web site many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this again soon..

  8. Fantastic web site. Lots of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your sweat!

  9. you’re really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a fantastic job on this topic!

  10. It is indeed my belief that mesothelioma is most dangerous cancer. It contains unusual qualities. The more I look at it the more I am persuaded it does not respond like a true solid cells cancer. When mesothelioma is usually a rogue viral infection, hence there is the chance for developing a vaccine as well as offering vaccination to asbestos exposed people who are at high risk with developing long run asbestos connected malignancies. Thanks for expressing your ideas on this important health issue.

  11. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice procedures and we are looking to trade solutions with others, why not shoot me an email if interested.

  12. Excellent blog here! Additionally your website rather a lot up fast! What web host are you the use of? Can I am getting your affiliate link to your host? I desire my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol

  13. Please let me know if you’re looking for a author for your weblog. You have some really good articles and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please shoot me an email if interested. Cheers!

  14. Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, great written and come with approximately all vital infos. I’d like to peer more posts like this.

  15. I’ll immediately grasp your rss feed as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly allow me recognise so that I may subscribe. Thanks.

  16. Only a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design. “Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you.” by Harold Bloom.

  17. Thanks for your post right here. One thing I would like to say is that often most professional career fields consider the Bachelor’s Degree as the entry level requirement for an online education. While Associate Degrees are a great way to start out, completing ones Bachelors opens many good opportunities to various jobs, there are numerous online Bachelor Course Programs available by institutions like The University of Phoenix, Intercontinental University Online and Kaplan. Another issue is that many brick and mortar institutions give Online types of their college diplomas but typically for a drastically higher charge than the companies that specialize in online education plans.

  18. It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

  19. My brother recommended I would possibly like this web site. He was totally right. This publish truly made my day. You cann’t believe simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thank you!

  20. But a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design. “The price one pays for pursuing a profession, or calling, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side.” by James Arthur Baldwin.

  21. Aw, this was a very nice post. In idea I wish to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and precise effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and on no account appear to get something done.

  22. We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be thankful to you.

  23. Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

  24. This website is known as a stroll-by for all of the data you wished about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and you’ll definitely discover it.

  25. hi!,I love your writing so so much! share we keep up a correspondence extra about your article on AOL? I need a specialist in this space to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look ahead to peer you.

  26. I cling on to listening to the reports lecture about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i acquire some?

  27. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

  28. Thanks so much for giving everyone an extremely nice chance to discover important secrets from this website. It’s usually very good and as well , full of a lot of fun for me and my office fellow workers to visit your website minimum thrice in one week to see the new secrets you have got. Not to mention, I’m actually fulfilled with your superb concepts served by you. Certain 3 points in this article are particularly the best we have all ever had.

  29. When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get 4 emails with the identical comment. Is there any manner you may take away me from that service? Thanks!

  30. This is very attention-grabbing, You’re an excessively skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and stay up for in search of more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!

  31. Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful site.

  32. I wanted to put you the very little word just to give thanks once again for those beautiful pointers you have documented on this website. It was simply particularly open-handed with you to make without restraint all a few people would’ve offered for an e-book in order to make some profit for their own end, specifically considering that you might have tried it in the event you wanted. The things as well acted to become a fantastic way to be aware that other people online have similar eagerness just as my very own to learn significantly more with respect to this issue. I know there are thousands of more fun opportunities in the future for those who scan your blog.

  33. Fantastic web site. Plenty of helpful information here. I am sending it to some buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks in your sweat!

  34. I will right away grab your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  35. I just could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information a person supply to your guests? Is going to be back steadily in order to investigate cross-check new posts

  36. Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol

  37. I’ve observed that in the world the present moment, video games are classified as the latest fad with kids of all ages. Many times it may be out of the question to drag your family away from the activities. If you want the best of both worlds, there are plenty of educational video games for kids. Interesting post.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.