So I'm getting really annoyed at some of the assumptions people make about me because I'm female.
- We're putting in central air in our house. A guy came by this morning to do an estimate. He quoted me a ballpark figure and then said, "That includes electrical. We can take a few hundred dollars off that if, say, your husband were to do the electrical." It never crossed his mind that a woman could do that sort of work... and
my degree is in electrical engineering!!!
- Everyone seems to be expecting me to drop everything and have a baby - especially now that I'm out of work again. Someone actually started a rumor at my temple that I was pregnant. This is really hurtful to me because I've put on a few pounds over the past few months... I'm trying to get rid of them, but comments like "Congratulations! When are you due?" aren't helping.
- And then there's the classic: I apply for a job. My name is unmistakably female, and the dates on my resume clearly indicate that I am young. If (IF) I'm called in for an interview, the interviewer sees my wedding ring. Right away, the assumption is that I will be working just long enough to save up some money, take advantage of their health insurance and short-term disability programs to have a baby on the company's dime, then quit and be a SAHM... so why should they waste their money hiring and training me? So I don't get the job... whereas a man would have no problem.
It's like popping out a couple of rugrats, wiping their bottoms, making sure they do well in school and don't watch too much TV, etc. is supposed to be the be-all and end-all of my existence and the limit of my capabilities.
GRRRRRRRR
(I feel better now...
)