When Good/Bad Things Happen to Bad/Good Feminists
Two young men (early twenties) have recently offered me their seats on the metro.
They don't just offer it to me, it's like a crusade. The first guy (black, mid-twenties) made a speech about how he didn't understand why any man was sitting down while ladies were standing up. The second guy (asian, I think military, early-twenties) kept going on about how it was "his pleasure" to offer me his seat.
Don't get me wrong - I really want that seat. I would love to sit and read/pass out/stare at funny people instead of being sweaty, jostled, and smooshed against 20 other sweaty strangers. But shouldn't I not want the seat?
The first time I took the seat, the second time I didn't. Why should I get offered the seat? Who the hell am I?
I also enjoy that a white man has never offered me his seat, and I've never even witnessed a white man offer anyone else a seat.
In conclusion, white men don't know how to share, and unless I want to be treated as a sex object I guess I should get used to standing?
3 Comments:
oh, my, gawrsh! I'm still laughing! I don't know if you meant the last sentence to be funny, but it was to me.
My idea of feminism says that, yes, a woman can take a seat offered to her by a man - black, asian, white, purple - or by anyone else, for that matter. I suppose I'm odd.
I have noticed a subtheme among your entries of questions about feminism. As someone who dealt with this subject often in her women's studies major, I feel that I should offer you an opportunity to learn more about what feminism is and is not and clear up any questions you might have. I only offer this to you as I am your sister and you are one of my dearest friends. I don't just go around talking about it to just anyone, you know. YOu're special. :) Just let me know!
Hmm.. I've been thinking about this. I guess the to-take-the-seat or not-to-take-the-seat question really isn't about feminism. But I still think it has a lot to do with the idea of women as being weak, needing protection, etc. It's frustrating because, like I said, I want the seat. Also, I don't want to be drafted (not that women are being drafted).
I can't have my cake and eat it, too.
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