I hate it when men think I am an inept woman. Just so we are on the same page, I’ve included the definition of the word:

Definition of inept

1: generally incompetent : BUNGLING inept leadership

2: lacking in fitness or aptitude : UNFIT inept at sports

3: not suitable to the time, place, or occasion: inappropriate often to an absurd degree an inept metaphor

4: lacking sense or reason: FOOLISH

It’s not that they say it to my face, it’s the way they act. A number of these incidents stand out in my life.

EXAMPLES OF BEING TREATED LIKE AN INEPT WOMAN

After my divorce, I needed a new lawnmower, and my brother accompanied me. The salesman promptly spoke to him about the equipment features, totally ignoring me. Understand, I was paying for the lawnmower and would be using it. My brother, who lived out of town, never did my lawn.
I went on a camping trip for single adults. The men were trying, without success, to put up a tent, but ignored my attempts to assist. I had to get pushy and jump in. Being a skilled Girl Scout, my guidance got the job done.
While a federal investigator, I had an older, distinguished-looking male as my intern. We went onsite to an investigation and the man from the company began to address the male as if he were the investigator. He apparently thought I was gal Friday.
As a volunteer firefighter, the male crew and I were called to a car fire in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. I was reading the map, giving directions. One of the men later told me what a good job I did. (WTF? Shouldn’t women be able to read a map? Was it surprising I could do it competently? I’m sure he wouldn’t have told a man the same thing.) Turned out the car was stolen and torched.
Registering surprise to learn that I, as a granny, am driving the tractor and shredding the pasture.

THE ONE TIME I WAS GLAD TO BE TREATED AS AN INEPT WOMAN

The past week, I have been using a chain saw to clear brush. Because of a disability, my husband is unable to wield the machinery. In the middle of a nasty tangle of scrubby cedar, downed oak branches, and vines with stickers, the contraption malfunctioned.

While I do know some things about the chain saw and am not a totally inept woman in its presence, I am certainly no expert. I can start it, fill it with fuel, add chain bar oil, and punch the trigger to make it go. Getting the chain back on when it comes off, is a new skill for me, but I’m working on it.

I brought it back to my husband, who messed with it and did his fair share of fussing at me for the way I handled it while cutting. Then, he determined that it was broken because he could not get the chain to move while the saw was off. (Note: If the chain is on properly, you can rotate it around the center bar.)

So, I took it to the local dealer. The older man at the counter asked what the issue was. I told him the chain would not rotate. He grabbed the saw and opened it, checking to see whether the chain was on correctly. Still, it did not rotate, and he seemed a bit surprised. Then, he noticed that the safety lock handle (chainbreak system) was on safety. Once he pulled the handle into operating position, the chain rotated freely. I thanked him profusely, not telling him that the inept man helping me had not noticed this either.

I am certain that, had I been male, he would have written up a ticket immediately and put it in the shop, not bothering to check further.

So, for once, being viewed as an inept woman paid off!