Last Bastion of Misogyny
I like to play poker.
For some reason, most people are uncomfortable when I tell them this. They picture me in some seedy dive surrounded by grumpy old men who are mean by nature and behave unethically and have power and control issues.
This is not exactly true. Casinos are luxurious entertainment facilities. Also, not all of the men are old !
Yes, the poker table is probably the one place left where men can truly be men unencumbered by societal rules. The game is so dominated by males that they feel safe to let out their true feelings and attitudes. And, it is pretty sad that perhaps we haven't come a long way baby. When I go to a poker table for the first time, I am quiet for the first hour as I gather information. The guys assume that since I am a woman that I am stupid so they quickly forget that I am there and start talking as if I wasn't. They objectify women, they openly express contempt and hostility towards women. The worst possible thing that can happen to them is losing a hand against a woman. It doesn't matter how a woman plays a hand, the collective will talk about it after the hand is over to confirm what they all know. The woman played the hand stupidly.
I have learned not to let this be a distraction to my game. I tend to give men in their 60s and 70s a pass on this behavior. They grew up in a different time and they not realize what they are doing. They grew up in the generation that actually believed that women were inferior.
What I find appalling is the behavior of men in their early 20s who should no better. They are the worst offenders. In the safety of the poker table, they honestly believe that women are inferior based solely on their gender, and they openly express this. Apparently, we haven't come a long way baby. Until I started playing poker, I actually thought that people no longer made judgments on the basis of gender. I thought the millennials were over this and misogyny would eventually be removed from the dictionary as it would be irrelevant.
Prejudice and discrimination against women may not be as far out of the rear view mirror as we assume. I wouldn't go as far as to suggest that this generation wants women barefoot and pregnant. They do want their women to work, but, otherwise to stay home and not have opinions. And, certainly, to stay out of the poker rooms.
For some reason, most people are uncomfortable when I tell them this. They picture me in some seedy dive surrounded by grumpy old men who are mean by nature and behave unethically and have power and control issues.
This is not exactly true. Casinos are luxurious entertainment facilities. Also, not all of the men are old !
Yes, the poker table is probably the one place left where men can truly be men unencumbered by societal rules. The game is so dominated by males that they feel safe to let out their true feelings and attitudes. And, it is pretty sad that perhaps we haven't come a long way baby. When I go to a poker table for the first time, I am quiet for the first hour as I gather information. The guys assume that since I am a woman that I am stupid so they quickly forget that I am there and start talking as if I wasn't. They objectify women, they openly express contempt and hostility towards women. The worst possible thing that can happen to them is losing a hand against a woman. It doesn't matter how a woman plays a hand, the collective will talk about it after the hand is over to confirm what they all know. The woman played the hand stupidly.
I have learned not to let this be a distraction to my game. I tend to give men in their 60s and 70s a pass on this behavior. They grew up in a different time and they not realize what they are doing. They grew up in the generation that actually believed that women were inferior.
What I find appalling is the behavior of men in their early 20s who should no better. They are the worst offenders. In the safety of the poker table, they honestly believe that women are inferior based solely on their gender, and they openly express this. Apparently, we haven't come a long way baby. Until I started playing poker, I actually thought that people no longer made judgments on the basis of gender. I thought the millennials were over this and misogyny would eventually be removed from the dictionary as it would be irrelevant.
Prejudice and discrimination against women may not be as far out of the rear view mirror as we assume. I wouldn't go as far as to suggest that this generation wants women barefoot and pregnant. They do want their women to work, but, otherwise to stay home and not have opinions. And, certainly, to stay out of the poker rooms.
Comments
Post a Comment