Amanda and Brooke trying to Tie Down the Oven
This has to be the most outlandish title post ever on my blog! But this quote was from the source of many of my blog posts–my wife Amanda. We were talking about a particularly upsetting situation, I will say more about later, that prompted this statement. She said there are two times when she doesn’t like being a woman and they both have to do with men.
Here are the two times when my wife hates being a woman:
1. When she is in a male dominated environment and the men treat her like she knows nothing. The story I was referring to earlier involved Amanda going to pick up a new double oven in my truck from a business. The salesman had said they would load it and take care of it. She took my truck and headed to get it thinking she would pull up, get the oven, and drive away. Well, that didn’t happen! Two men come out, not too pleased to be handling this heavy oven, and put it straight up in the back of the truck. Amanda suggested that they lay it down in the truck (as we had discussed earlier at home), and they quickly replied with a simple excuse of the cord being in the way, when in reality, it wasn’t. Amanda begins to get the straps out of the toolbox, assuming they would help her use them since the salesman had been clear that it would be loaded and taken care of, but as she turned around, the men were headed back inside. She was unfamiliar with using the ratchet straps, so she finds herself frustrated and called me. The men were not helpful and were condescending to her. She ended up barely getting out of the parking lot before parking again and spending 40 minutes working on the straps. By the time I got there she had it strapped down really good, after a stressful ordeal and our Friday night plans being messed up. This followed on the heels of having to go to a salvage yard twice in the period of a week to get a part for our van. The man there didn’t even want to talk to her and was once again unhelpful.
2. When men whistle and yell comments to her treating her like an object, even when she is dressed very modestly. My wife is a pretty lady, but always wears modest clothing. She enjoys running. At times she will run along a busy street, and this will inevitably happen numerous times. A couple of years back when we were at Polishing the Pulpit we were staying near a road that wasn’t that busy and had a nice sidewalk. It borders a golf course and is a pretty run. We both run the path. Because of kids, we did it separate. When she got back she told me of how four times she was whistled or yelled at during the run. She was however not surprised, that I ran and had not one person yell at me, I guess I didn’t get in anyone’s way! But it is not only when she is running, but going into Wal-mart, men can act inappropriately to a lady.
What is the point of this post? I think us men need to understand how many women feel about these actions. Regarding the first, when we are in a male-dominated environment and women come into that situation, we should work to make them feel comfortable and not treat them condescendingly. Regarding the second, men often feel that women are flattered by their yells and whistles, but it is really offensive to them (I am sure not to all women, but to godly, married women it certainly is.)
When Jesus came to this world, he revolutionized how women should be treated. His disciples were even amazed that he was talking to a woman (John 4). Those of us men who follow Christ today, should continue to lead the way in showing the men of the world how to respect, honor, and treat a lady.
