Watching a tv show.
Man 1: *makes a comment referring to an adult human female as a girl*
Man 2: She's not a girl, she's a woman.
I have never wanted to high five someone through a screen so much.
@erica
Actually, they're both wrong. In this 21st century, they have to ask the person if the person would like to be called 'girl' or 'woman' or, in fact, if the person even self-identifies as female. Until such time, they can't even have a conversation about the person.
@SlowRain alternately, people could stop infantilizing women.
@SlowRain what you're calling a "certain context" is what I call my lived reality.
@erica Perhaps not that harsh, though. We all have lived realities, it's just that some are more privileged--and some in the third world are downright scary.
I'm all for introducing more adversity into the lives of all Westerners, but boys in particular. It's interesting to see Western boys come to Taiwan and whine like crazy about the traffic, and then watch how the females adapt more easily. I support most things, short of violence, that build resilience.
@SlowRain "We all have lived realities", "third world", "the females". Ugh.
Treating people's real world circumstances as a philosophical discussion in which we're all just dealing with minor inconveniences serves only to elide the ways people uphold unequal systems for their own benefit. Maybe it's time for you to explore ways you can step outside your privilege.
@erica
You mean like moving to a country where you hold fewer rights & privileges than the majority around you?
@SlowRain good for you for having that opportunity. A lot of people don't have to go anywhere to experience that.
@erica
I'd still recommend the travel, though--and something more than a resort. Books and discussions are a good place to start learning about a subject or others' perspectives. However, it still doesn't completely overcome the myopia inherent to all Westerners: rich or poor, black or white, male or female. Continental Europeans & New Zealanders tend to be a little better in this regard, but Britons, North Americans, & Australians have a ways to go yet.
@erica
This is mostly true, but only within a certain context. For example, I wholeheartedly support any person's right, male or female, to call me a boy. It's a matter of perspective on their part. Perhaps they are older, feel more intelligent, or want to be condescending. I have no control over other people's personalities or views of me other than just doing my best to be a decent person.