Audrey
A USPS male worker was extremely condescending to me because I had issues with the card reader reading my chip. When we finally finished the transaction he printed out the receipt and said in a really condescending tone, “Ok, put this in your bag, and take your two legs and walk out the door, and then make sure to not tilt your head and put it under the wheel”. Please note, I am a succcessful Business woman who has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. I also was a great mood and friendly to him while he was condescending even before the card reader issues. I just asked, “Why are you saying all this to me?” A woman next to me said, “She sure told you!”. He said “I’m being funny because…” and he pointed at the card reader… basically implying I was an idiot. I said, “It was not funny. It was kind of condescending.” I am 45 years old and look like I’m in my 20s, so I get a lot of men who talk down to me. I was admittedly quite triggered by this point and just said “I’m 45 and have been around.”. Not the most eloquent close, but it was the best I could do because this interaction really disempowered me and I was at a complete loss for words. I share because I do believe this behavior has been accepted and normalized for far too long. Thank you for creating this safe space where we can share our experiences and unit and hopefully change the world!