Yesterday, I was on my way to a late evening meeting at the MIG Cricket Club at Bandra East.
There wasn’t any valet and as seems to the norm these days, there didn’t seem to be any parking on the road either. I kept moving ahead till I saw a space that I could, possibly, maybe, just about, squeeze my car into.
Of course, that would mean I’d have to parallel park and let’s just say that’s not one of my favorite things to do with a car.
So what did I do?
I got out of the car, saw the driver of the car parked next to the open space (he was eying me suspiciously anyway, probably worried I’d hit his car) and titled my head a just a little, scrunched my eyebrows together and asked him in my ‘oh-so-incapable-I’m-just-a-woman’ voice to please park my car for me.
And this, of course, he did for me very readily.
While he was doing so though, it occurred to me just how pseudo I can be when I want to. How easily the damsel in distress role came to me!
And how, just as easily I would have ignored this same man had I not needed his help.
Not to mention the fact that I had probably set the feminist movement back a couple 100 years. And in fact only I had only strengthened the ever infamous notion, in India at least, that “women can’t drive” (though at this juncture, I must remind thee that parallel parking has nothing to do with driving, I am a brilliant driver).
The thing is though, it doesn’t really disturb me. I needed the help and I asked for it.
Perhaps if I had asked in a I’m-equal-to-you or a I-can-do-anything-as-well-as-you-can voice, I wouldn’t have gotten help.
Sometimes, superior to most men though I am, I’ve got to appear inferior.
Who cares really? Let some man think I’m less than him if it gets my work done. La-di-da.
*********
Caveat lector: Most of the above post was written in jest, against feminists and against anti-feminists.
; ?>/feed-icon-24x24.png){kind=icon}
December 17th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
You write ALL OF THIS and then forget the fact that practice makes perfect?
………..
December 17th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
Hmmmmmmmmmm!! The damsel in distress flutterin her baby blue eyes… Nothing like that to boost a man’s ego and to get things done. Women! *hmph*
Caveat lector: ‘Most’ of the above (& below) comment was written in jest, against feminists and against anti-feminists, and against Mel.
You could have used a I’m-better-than-you-are voice. “Hey you there! Park my car! And give the window a good scrub while you’re at it!”
And come back to find all your tyres flat
December 18th, 2006 at 11:05 am
I’ve been advised to learn this routine but I never seem to get the hang of it. And men end up hating my guts. Teach me, lady!
December 18th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
ah well, whatever gets the work done i suppose. you could make a really good manager. start off by reading dilbert
December 18th, 2006 at 11:38 pm
@ dev: lol… and just fyi, my eyes are brown not blue (**flutter flutter**)
@ IdeaSmith: Would gladly teach you lady if I thought you needed it, but have a feeling that you do just fine - a guy needs to only look at you to want to come over & help, I’m sure!
@ dee: Thank you!! Incidentally, am a manager, and I think (though I say so myself) a pretty decent one!!
And yes, enjoy Dilbert!
December 19th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
You’re much mistaken (for once!)….I’m the kind that guys look at and want to murder or at least lock away….
December 20th, 2006 at 8:07 am
uh! Dumb Blonde
December 20th, 2006 at 11:14 am
hahaha….
cheeky girl!
December 24th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Hmmmmm… I am not far removed from my trip to Bandra but I am trying to place “Brilliant” in “Brilliant Driver”…wink…wink. I am sure there are a lot of blondes at The Club A confused and thouroughly threatened with your shameless blonde moment.
December 27th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
I’m sure you’re being waaay too humble here
@ Mario: Hey, if that’s what I gotto be to get my work done then…!! lol
@ gps:
glad you (dis?)approve!!
@ Nutmeg: Stop with the “wink wink” - you know darn well I’m a terrific driver. Lol to your confused blondes… I’m gonna have a word with the real owner of Club A and see what the “lot” of ‘em are doing there…. hmmmm
June 20th, 2007 at 11:46 am
He he…
I blogged abt sth similar a couple of days back too… Just have a look:
http://knownaresh.blogspot.com.....o-man.html
June 20th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Read your post & Shub - very interesting! Not too much into either side of the debate though - I personally know many men who get away with things because they’re men & women who do the same. So…!
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
i agree, u needed the help u got it, lets imagine that driver asking for ur help for using a jack on tht car…u will help wont u???
even me too confused by the debate now(the one started by shub-naresh). Its a So [dot][dot][dot] for me too !!!