The art of annoying

Anything that seeks to change the status quo is going to be uncomfortable. And the reaction of the uncomfortable is going to be mostly violent. I have paid attention to the arguments of those who insist that “there should be exclusive places for men”, among them they argue that “there are exclusive places for women and they do not violate them”. What they’re not saying is what justifies female-only venues and what justifies male-only venues. I think the key is in the origin. The canteens prohibited access to women, like dogs, and the military. All in that same category. The reason why there are exclusive subway cars for women is because harassment abounds in the mixed ones: subjects who touch their sacrosanct is the part with the first unsuspecting person they meet and young people who use the cell phone to record under the skirts of the girls and upload it to the internet. Frankly, I understand the need for this measure, what I find outrageous is the refusal of the city government to educate the population. As bad as the idea of ​​the then head of government Miguel Ángel Mancera who gave women whistles, with a subtext that said: “we know they are going to harass you, take your whistle so we can find out.” Then, since they assume a priori that most men are uncontrollable savages, they send the women in a safe car. Those measures: the one with the whistles, the one with the pink trucks and wagons, would have to be temporary, accompanied by a campaign that bets on pedagogy, on building better men, not only in the subway, but wherever those users go. direct. On the other hand, if a woman enters a canteen, it will not be to check the package of the diners, or look lewdly at the neighbors at her table.

“There is only one bathroom”, they put forward as the great argument. The bathrooms! For many years, nations more developed in terms of equity than ours, have shared bathrooms. A single row, and a lot of individual spaces with doors that are used by both men and women as they are released, there are also several shared toilets. To assume that women cannot use the same toilet as a man is to assume that their hygiene will make it impossible. No, hygiene does not recognize genders, believe me. What if we all educate ourselves to use public spaces well and leave them clean? Because if we can be civilized enough to use the same bathroom, we might as well travel in the same car.

I also heard another argument that defends the need for “men-only bars” because that way their partners can be calm because they are in a place where there are no women (and they are not being painted the horn). Oh my God! If there are women who only “allow” their partners to go to places where there are no other women, there are many underlying things to question there. Seek professional help, and after help, another couple.

And someone else wrote: “In Opinion 51 only women write, so men should write too.” I insist, the key is in the origin. When we open the pages of the main newspapers in the country and we do not find that women represent at most 10% of the pens, then Opinion 51 will have to rethink a new objective, and believe me, that will be a very happy day.

So is it impossible for men to have a place where they can meet only because they want to? No, I don’t think so. The difference is that if your “place” is a public establishment, you will have to comply with what the regulations require, first of all, a policy of zero discrimination. By the way, I am a member of a club in which my name card bears my name with my husband’s last name, it doesn’t matter that there is not a single official document that validates the existence of the “Mrs. of”. It is the tradition, and it happens because it is a private space, that does not mean that it should not change.

I feel that sometimes this cry of “we want our spaces where there are only men”, is what we see in the composition of the boards of directors, the top management of companies and most forums. Companies know that inclusion is good business, and the same thing happens in life.

P.S. If you feel very upset about what is written here, I suggest you write with less anger and more arguments, so we can have a conversation that enriches us all. If you are going to use the words “whore” or “bitch” that were among the most used to attack my colleagues, in the absence of arguments, know that this only reflects your frustration, the violence caused by the fear of those who do not feel comfortable with changes. I looked for help.