A couple of days ago I noticed this piece of idiocy. You don’t need to click through. It is a classic “blame the victim” piece in which an arrogant male explains (in simple words so that the stupid women will be able to understand) that there would be no sexism if only women were properly assertive like men are.

Just in case anyone hasn’t been paying attention, the massive logical flaw in this argument is that while being assertive is expected behavior in men, and something they are praised for, assertiveness in women is generally decried and women who try to be assertive get labeled “bitch”, “pushy”, “shrill” and any number of other put-downs.

The reason I bring this up is that dana boyd has been discussing it here, and she adds something else to the mix:

There’s nothing that upsets me more than deception. As a teenager, I had my world spun apart by lies. So you’re not going to find me engaged in trickery. But what I’ve found is that people interpret my assertiveness as dishonesty and this still baffles me. It’s as though, because I’m a woman, if I don’t apologize for every thought I have and I’m proven wrong, I must’ve been lying because I convinced someone of an untruth. Confidence, when misinterpreted, can be interpreted all sorts of problematic ways.

Dishonest as well? I don’t think I have ever noticed that, but somehow it doesn’t surprise me. Yet another reason to stop talking about things that matter to me, I guess. I should just leave all the talking to Kevin because people will believe him.