Yeah we get all the **** about not being able to bake, wear nice clothing or take an interest in girly things, the minute we do then we're gay. Personally if a girl insults me about being a man I'll tell her where she can stick it.

* Holds door open for DCFGS3. Pinches his bum. *

Originally Posted by Balthazar

* Holds door open for DCFGS3. Pinches his bum. *

I'm starting to worry about you these days

I'm still peeved that he let me go through first...unmolested

Originally Posted by uncon

I'm still peeved that he let me go through first...unmolested

Which rather substantiates my concerns!

and damages my ego!

Originally Posted by uncon

and damages my ego!

Would it make you happier if you go back through the door and we try again....molestation included?

Originally Posted by uncon

I'm still peeved that he let me go through first...unmolested

* Invites uncon for a ride in my Jag *

Originally Posted by Mr_Kajooga

Would it make you happier if you go back through the door and we try again....molestation included?

No

Now I think you will be obliged to out of politeness

Originally Posted by Balthazar

* Invites uncon for a ride in my Jag *

Thank you dear. I would return the favour, but I am pretty fussy about who I drive in mine

There is a serious effort being made in public service employment, to equal up the numbers of men and women in the workforce.
This effectively discriminates against men in areas such as the Police, and against women in areas such as nursing.

Originally Posted by uncon

Thank you dear. I would return the favour, but I am pretty fussy about who I drive in mine

* Deflates like a popped balloon *

Originally Posted by Barry

There is a serious effort being made in public service employment, to equal up the numbers of men and women in the workforce.
This effectively discriminates against men in areas such as the Police, and against women in areas such as nursing.

Sorry, we did get a bit there!!

Why do you think this is the case Barry, solely down to a backlash or something initiated by the pro-active discrimination lobby?

I've always held jobs traditionally thought of as being mainly a male area, and seeing positive discrimination in any form gets my back up.

If you are good at what you do and there is a lack of negative discrimination then I can't see a problem.

What I am noticing is that people are pushing positive discrimination to get statistics at the expense of what would be best for the company or business. In that respect I can't help but feel that a white middle class male is somewhat of an underdog, particularly when it comes to public services

The rate things are going... 10 or 20 years from now, women might even be equal to men.....*shudder*

We would have to do our own washing up, and who would bring us a beer when the games on?

Originally Posted by Midas

Why do you think this is the case Barry, solely down to a backlash or something initiated by the pro-active discrimination lobby?

I don't think it is about backlash.
I think it is a progression of equal rights and pay for women (it's not that long ago, women were paid less than men, legally). Also a progression of the desire to please the various minorities to ensure that the workforce represents the population.
This, of course, takes no account of the natural desires of people to gravitate to particular jobs.
Women don't generally become bricklayers, do they?
Women, some may say, have a better nurture ability, so make better nurses.
Men are generally physically stronger than women, and are good in a fight, therefore the army.
I am not necessarily agreeing with these.

My point of view is, that as far as is possible, people should be picked on the basis of their abilities to do the task required of them.

Originally Posted by Balthazar

* Invites uncon for a ride in my Jag *

What!! You drive a Jag? Have you got a UKIP blazer as well, with polished gilt buttons? I would have thought you would feel more comfortable in a salwar kameez and a tuktuk.

Originally Posted by Barry

I don't think it is about backlash.
I think it is a progression of equal rights and pay for women (it's not that long ago, women were paid less than men, legally). Also a progression of the desire to please the various minorities to ensure that the workforce represents the population.
This, of course, takes no account of the natural desires of people to gravitate to particular jobs.
Women don't generally become bricklayers, do they?
Women, some may say, have a better nurture ability, so make better nurses.
Men are generally physically stronger than women, and are good in a fight, therefore the army.
I am not necessarily agreeing with these.

My point of view is, that as far as is possible, people should be picked on the basis of their abilities to do the task required of them.

I agree with your position on this. The circumstances when positive discrimination are justified are very few and far between ( I can for instance except that a black male actor should be cast for the part of Martin Luther King or a white female actress for the part of HM the Queen in a play or film). Positive discrimination in favour of one group, is negative discrimination against another group. That the group discriminated against, may be the majority rarely justifies such discrimination.

The fact is when you remove enough minorities from the the majority, you are left with a minority.

Originally Posted by Mr_Kajooga

After reading an article on the times online, I thought it might be worth discussing this topic on here...

There always seems to be such a huge focus on women being the victims of sexism - as though men are never victims themselves - but is that just because us blokes turn a blind eye more often than not?

Anyway I read the following user comment and it really hit home (its the type of thing you normally wouldnt even think about - but when you do...this guy is actually a victim of sexist behaviour).

John D wrote:
Thank you Charlotte for recognising that sexism goes the other way as well.

For charity some months ago I baked some cupcakes and sold them at work. On top of a majority of women asking if I baked them myself (which I didn't read into), a number went further by insisting that my girlfriend/mother must have made them (of course a male couldn't have done them himself), or pointing at some of those with less neatly applied icing saying 'you can tell this was done by a man'. Most of these women I did not know at all.

I have no doubt if the situation was reversed a complaint would be made, however as I'm male, it's clearly not considered sexist.

Link: ‘Babe’ watch: readers tell about sexism in their lives - Times Online

Although a man, I consider myself almost a feminist. So many men beat their women for unnecessary reasons, when for MOST of the time a good talking to to would do the job.

I believe that nature has designed both sexes to do various jobs, some are best suited to men and some best suited to women, and of course others are equal. Watch a man trying to iron and it is laughable, whilst watching a woman trying to drive is nothing less than scary. A woman can multi task, that is to say breast feed and clean at the same time, whilst I find it hard to drink beer and eat peanuts simultaneously.

I hate sexism, but not as half as much as a woman who doesn't know her place !!