Yasashii

I was in a certain noodle fast-food restaurant ordering a small box of noodles with some slightly spicy flavoured sauce on top of it. The man who was serving me remarked, “Are you sure you’ll like it? It’s very hot.” I am quite sure if I were a man he wouldn’t have asked me that question. There’s a sort of cultural idea of gendered food; that men can eat huge bacon filled burgers and ribs with hot sauce and just really visibly enjoy eating it… there’s a cultural expectation that women, us poor, dainty little creatures simply cannot handle strong or spicy food, and that we also can’t eat our food gregariously or enjoyably. I don’t want to be underestimated or questioned on my food choices because of my gender. I just want to order my meal and eat it thanks.