In this eye-opening piece, we delve into the experiences of women who have encountered the most condescending and arrogant advice from complete strangers.
From unsolicited comments on their appearance to belittling remarks about their choices, these stories shed light on the unfortunate reality of condescension faced by women.
Get ready to hear firsthand accounts of encounters that left them both frustrated and determined to rise above such arrogance.
All content has been edited for clarity.
Money Doesn’t Equal Talent
“When I was 14, I participated in a literature competition.
This competition mainly catered to elite private schools, but it was open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 18.
Knowing about it, I submitted a 5,000-word essay for the non-fiction category and an additional 5,000-word narrative for the fiction section.
To my surprise, both pieces were accepted among the top three finalists in the city.
During the award presentation, the committee’s chairman approached my mother and me.
He congratulated me on my efforts and asked, ‘Which private school do you represent?’
I proudly replied that I attended a public school, mentioning its name, and clarified that I was representing myself.
His reaction was one of disbelief.
He said, ‘You really shouldn’t feel the need to prove yourself just because you come from an economically challenged background. Top private schools train for months for these competitions. If you work hard enough at an after-school job, you may achieve success as well. These competitions will be far too hard for you.’
He even went on to criticize my mother for ‘forcing’ me into a competition where I ‘didn’t have a chance’ of winning.
The truth was, I had not been forced into the competition at all. I participated because I genuinely enjoyed writing and wanted to share my passion with others, not to prove myself or win awards.
My sole motive for entering the competition was the opportunity to gain experience and connect with fellow writers in my community.
Needless to say, when I came first in both categories, the look on his face was priceless.”
That’s Really None Of His Business Anyway
“I pulled into the hospital parking lot, all excited for my fresh start, and parked in a spot reserved for physicians.
As I waited in my car, I decided to call up my BFF, who’s also an OB Gyn, to share my excitement and chat a bit. We were having a good laugh when suddenly, there’s this loud, angry knock on my window. I turn and see this dude, late 50s or early 60s, with a face twisted in fury.
I roll down my window, curious to see what’s going on, and this guy starts yelling at me, ‘You can’t park here! This is for physicians only!’
Now, let me tell you, I was ready to shut this down. I quickly grab my badge, the one with a stretchy string that’s usually hanging around my neck, and I hold it about 1cm from his face, giving him a piece of my mind. ‘Dude, I think this badge clearly gives me permission to park here!’
You’d think that would lead to an apology or at least some embarrassment, right? But nope! This guy just turns on his heels and walks away, like nothing happened.
Yes, you guessed it! I’m a woman, and yes, women can be physicians too!”
That Move Constantly Backfires
“I used to work for the government as a geotechnical engineer, also known as a ‘soil tester.’ My job involved collecting soil and geological samples for various purposes. One day, I was called to a construction site of a newly developed shopping mall due to some serious issues that had arisen after its opening—dangerous levels of methane gas were causing a big problem. My coworkers had left to check another site, so I was alone at the time.
It was a warm day, and I had been working for hours, all sweaty with my hair tied up in a messy bun, wearing dirty coveralls over my dress clothes. I probably looked like a hardworking maintenance, construction, or landscaping worker. As I focused on my work, I suddenly felt like someone was watching me. When I turned around, I saw a group of four people standing a few feet away, looking at me with disapproval.
One of them, a woman, spoke up with a condescending tone, saying, ‘Take a look at this person, Peyton. Take a good look, because this is what happens when you don’t stay in school.’ They all chuckled, and she continued, ‘Payton?! Alexis?! Jackson?! Stand over here so I can take your photo. We’re posting this on the fridge to remind Peyton what her future looks like if she keeps messing around with her education.’ The teenagers, aged 17-19, seemed uncomfortable but complied with her orders.
By that time, my coworkers, whom I fondly call ‘minions’ (armed military security personnel), had returned from lunch and were approaching us. I stood up and reached for my credentials inside my coverall. I informed the woman that she was trespassing onto a secured area, which was not only illegal but also unsafe.
She responded with arrogance, claiming her husband owned the property and belittling my job. I decided to put an end to the confusion and flipped open my badge, clearly displaying my credentials as a ‘Dr’ and an official government authority. Her expression changed from confusion to concern in seconds.
I called out to my minions to take her and her family away from the area, explaining the consequences of their actions. They handled the situation professionally, and she tried to argue and resist, but eventually local law enforcement had to be called to intervene and arrest her.
With the situation finally resolved, I decided to call it a day and rewarded my hardworking crew with some well-deserved ice cream. It was an eventful day at the construction site, to say the least!”
What If She Asked To Go On The Boat?
“As I was walking my dog around the marina, I headed back to my dad’s boat and noticed a couple standing next to it. I decided to walk down to the end of the dock, but the guy approached me and insisted that only boat owners were allowed on the docks, urging me to leave. Ironically, as he spoke, he pointed at my dad’s boat while telling the woman about his own boat and his search for someone to clean it.
Confused and wondering what was happening, I stood there. He then proceeded to tell me condescendingly that I should hope to find a rich guy like him someday. The woman chimed in, claiming he was taken and making a face at me while hugging him. I attempted to go around them, but he questioned my intentions. I confidently informed him that I was getting on my dad’s boat, which only led to them laughing at me.
Thankfully, Ed, one of the crew members, emerged from the back of the boat and told me that dinner was ready. I assured him I would be up shortly, but not before expressing my frustration with the couple. I stuck my tongue out at the woman, jokingly telling her that he was all hers. This upset her, and she walked away while the guy followed, facing her anger and her accusations of him being fake.
As Tom, another crew member, opened the side door and asked about the commotion, I simply remarked that she didn’t like him as much as she thought she did.”