This one will make woman bang their head on the wall

[CDT]

I made a call to a person who works in our City Engineer's office (private firm) who had a question on a street name for a plat. I told him that I was finally able to speak to our street naming person and had a street name for him. He says, "What's his name?" I said "HER name is ..." and he actually said to me "now, don't you think that is a pretty big responsibility for a woman?"

pause...

I say "Excuse me?"

Can you believe that jacka$$? I just changed jobs to a smaller town (20k) but it's in a metro of a million person city. Where do these people come from? It was such a nice thing to happen on a friday. I wonder what he thinks of me, a woman working as the City Planner? I guess he wanted me to know, without saying it straight out. oh well, anyone else deal with this?

[Maister]

That's surprising hearing that sort of thing in the 21st century, in an urban area no less.

[JNA]

For our unincorporated county the person responsible for street names and addressing is a woman.

[imaplanner]

I suspect he was teasing. Either that or he's an idiot.

[Suburb Repairman]

Hmmm... the person responsible for street names in the entire county and the two incorporated areas here is a woman and we're in "good ol' boy" country down here. I wonder how many stories she has like this!

[CDT]

I suspect he was teasing. Either that or he's an idiot.

I wish he were teasing, but we don't have a relationship like that. I vaugly remember the previous director (also a woman) mentioning something about chauvanism and ol' boy network.

I think he has a problem with woman telling him what to do. I hope I am on the selection committe for the City Engineer next round! He said he was kidding, but isn't there that saying that "there's always a little truth to what is said"?

[abrowne]

I suspect he was teasing. Either that or he's an idiot.

Can't it be both?

[giff57]

I was more interested in this thread before I read "head on the wall"

I'm in a weird mood today.....

[Mastiff]

I hope I am on the selection committe for the City Engineer next round!

Why is that?

Can't it be both?

Of course! I suspect more toward the idiot end, though...

[LorenzoRoyal]

Can't it be both?

It can be both.

[Zoning Goddess]

Those guys mean it. They're just stupid enough to think that excusing it as a joke will make it alright. Tell your boss! I have dealt with enough morons in recent years who won't deal with women in government to the point I want to strangle them (but haven't, yet, anyway).

[chukky]

My dad's company has a policy of answering unsolicited marketing calls asking for the manager/person in charge of computers/director/etc. with "I'm sorry, Miss Wong is not in at the moment. Can you call back?" .....

They never do.

[abrowne]

Miss Wong, eh? Good show. Deflects the racists and the chauvinists.

[Super Amputee Cat]

Those guys mean it. They're just stupid enough to think that excusing it as a joke will make it alright...I have dealt with enough morons in recent years who won't deal with women in government to the point I want to strangle them (but haven't, yet, anyway).

I'd like to see someone rip one of these guys' heads off just once. Just tear them a new one right in public and get away with it. Believe me, I've dealt with, and had to put up with the fallout from, ignorant pricks like the guy above many a time. Maybe not for sexist stuff, but for other lowbrow crap like seeing them push some stupid subdivision through (in total violation of the master plan) just because he went on a golf outing with his some stupid sucka$$ politician or trustee (while little wifey stays home and cleans.)

A$$holes like this guy still get away with murder and it really doesn't surprise me that such a ignorant statement still can be made in the so called professional environment today.

[imaplanner]

I've worked in very urban and very rural jurisdictions. I was not surpirsed when it occured to female coworkers of mine in rural areas - that's just the way some rural people are (uneducated, unenlightened hicks) but in an urban area that shocks me.