thefamily

What happened to the days when women were women and men were men?  Was having defined gender roles and attributes such a bad thing?  I was unfortunate enough to come across a female (I can’t call her a lady) who used the crudest language.  When I asked her to refrain until my daughter and I were out of earshot because hey, she’s four and will repeat anything she hears, the girl began to rip on me calling me foul names and accusing me of racism.  I was completely floored that someone would take offense to a polite request like mine.  We were standing in line at the grocery store, a very public place where the girl should have been watching her language a little better anyway.  But to have been saying what was coming out of her mouth with a child within two feet of her was just wrong.  Then for her to continue and call me vulgar names was beyond ordinary wrong.  I’ve been reflecting on the 1940’s.  The only radio station I get in my car is an oldies station that plays songs from the 40’s and so when I drive I get to listen to the soft, feminine sounds of various female artists like Jo Stafford.  Look her up on Rhapsody and listen to ‘a’ You’re Adorable.  I heard it on the radio a couple weeks ago and have humming it ever since.  It’s hilarious.  I love thinking about the time when women were proud to be women and wanted to be women.  I don’t think I would have heard a twenty something girl use those words in a grocery store (or many other places) back then.  And I’m sure that if I did, if I had confronted her about it, she would have shown the proper humility.

There have been many times in my life when I have asked others to watch their language.  Most recently those times have been because I’ve had my children with me and I don’t want them picking up those kinds of words.  Other times have been simply because I don’t want to hear those words.  Never, until the other day, have I been verbally attacked for doing so.  Until now, I have always been met with respect and embarrassment at having used crude language in a public place.

Have you ever experienced anything like this before?  Would you speak up if it had been you with your child?