I just started noticing lately that so many people unintentionally assume women can't do anything. For example, I've seen people applaud a girl after she dropped her motorcycle and picked it back up, as if they were amazed by it. I swear to God, people just straight up think that women are incapable of doing basic stuff. What's wild is that I've met quite a few women who actually enjoy this. It's so goofy because they are literally being viewed as less capable, yet they are happy about it. Then, you get criticized just because you didn't treat them like they were less. I'm a dude, but damn, this situation kinda vexes me. I mean sure, enjoy chivalry if you want, but getting shit on for not assuming you're less capable is so annoying. It's not even that I don't want to help, I mean I don't mind helping, if it's needed but like god damn, I can't read minds.
11 Comments
southsamurai@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 17d
I feel you.
Being real though, picking up some motorsickles is hard. I'm always impressed even when big guys do it solo, much less easily. Not entirely because they're heavy, there's also the factor that when most people drop their bike, it isn't casually. There's a reason it's down, and that can interfere with getting it back up.
Still, totally with you. The fact it's a woman doing it solo is no more or less impressive than a man of the same approximate size.
resipsaloquitur@lemmy.cafe · 14 pts · 17d
Not sure your example is the best. Motorcycles can weigh up to 1000lbs. There's a technique where you lift with your legs that doesn't require upper body strength, but if you don't know it, it's quite a struggle.
I've helped/been helped when I or others dropped a bike, and the help probably prevented a strain injury.
Anyone who can lift a bike is either smart, strong, or both, and has my respect.
unknownman@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 17d
It's definitely not the best in hindsight. It's kinda a "skill".
Freyi@lemmy.sdf.org · 2 pts · 16d
+1 to that -- when I was a kid, I saw a cop drop his bike while trying to park it on the kickstand. He couldn't lift it back up (at least, within the 30 seconds I was gawking), and he looked fairly strong...
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 17d
I understand your rant, but also wanted to say depending on the motorcycle, that lifting it back up is a huge achievement that should be applauded.
I think my sport bike weighed 460lbs, but those Goldwings are double that.
reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 17d
Stereotypes are annoying, but I think a necessary human condition. Until you know someone your judgements about them are largely going to be uninformed and wrong, but I think it’s too much to ask people to drop all assumptions and meet every stranger as a radical individual. Each of us gets used to the stereotypes people apply to us and we either make accommodations to counter them or we just accept that people will be wrong about us, especially where we deviate from the norm. It’s a byproduct of the fact that we see the world in groups when it’s really made of individuals.
Ofc some assumptions can be straight up dangerous for people and we should try to stamp those out.
velma@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 13d
Did you post this rant in order to have plausible deniability for being rude to women elsewhere?
HubertManne@piefed.social · 2 pts · 17d
My brother and I were pretty blown away with a pretty capable sister of ours when she had to call to deal with a flat tire. The thing is we saw her as more capable than your typical woman.
wesker@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 17d
Those stupid women, don't they know they can't feel like that!
unknownman@lemmy.zip · 0 pts · 17d
Straw man fallacy in action
Malyca@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 17d
Don't hang out with terrible people, your life will improve immensely. IDK though I'd be proud of myself if I picked up a bike because I'm super weak on average. My husband's Harley though? No way I'd be able to.