The Priceless Menu
I came across an article today about a lawsuit to ban menus without prices.
My thoughts on this ...
* It didn't need a lawsuit at all. It could have been solved by arranging a number of feminist friends to go to those restaurants with a male date and, when handed a priceless menu, pass it to their partner and say, "It's my treat." Enough of that would embarrass the restaurants into not assuming who's paying. Especially at high-end restaurants, people are very sensitive about saving face. They damn well learned not to assume it with checks, because a check fight at a table is a real nuisance; they can learn it about menus, chairs, or anything else.
* Or you use the standard method of disapproval for public establishments and throw a boycott. You could also start your own restaurant and run it however you please.
* Calling it a priceless, date, or discreet menu instead of a ladies menu would remove the sexist description.
* One person's self-important bitchfest took away a tool that other people were using, and may have relied upon for other reasons. For example, anyone could be uncomfortable with high prices, and some people find math and numbers stressful. Others have trouble sorting through the visual clutter of a menu, especially in dim lighting, and anything that reduces the clutter is helpful. But now fewer places offer that option, because somebody threw a tantrum. Helpful tip: don't take tools out of other people's hands just because YOU don't like them.
* Also, some feminists in general and butches in particular like taking a masculine role. Conversely, some men and some femmes like taking a feminine role. While removing all the gender markers may please some groups of people, it undermines the opportunities for gender expression in some other groups.
* Think about your responses and the wider implications, not just getting what you want. Stuff like this makes feminists look like fussbudgets and makes it harder to fix big, concrete problems like how to access health care without getting sexually assaulted.
My thoughts on this ...
* It didn't need a lawsuit at all. It could have been solved by arranging a number of feminist friends to go to those restaurants with a male date and, when handed a priceless menu, pass it to their partner and say, "It's my treat." Enough of that would embarrass the restaurants into not assuming who's paying. Especially at high-end restaurants, people are very sensitive about saving face. They damn well learned not to assume it with checks, because a check fight at a table is a real nuisance; they can learn it about menus, chairs, or anything else.
* Or you use the standard method of disapproval for public establishments and throw a boycott. You could also start your own restaurant and run it however you please.
* Calling it a priceless, date, or discreet menu instead of a ladies menu would remove the sexist description.
* One person's self-important bitchfest took away a tool that other people were using, and may have relied upon for other reasons. For example, anyone could be uncomfortable with high prices, and some people find math and numbers stressful. Others have trouble sorting through the visual clutter of a menu, especially in dim lighting, and anything that reduces the clutter is helpful. But now fewer places offer that option, because somebody threw a tantrum. Helpful tip: don't take tools out of other people's hands just because YOU don't like them.
* Also, some feminists in general and butches in particular like taking a masculine role. Conversely, some men and some femmes like taking a feminine role. While removing all the gender markers may please some groups of people, it undermines the opportunities for gender expression in some other groups.
* Think about your responses and the wider implications, not just getting what you want. Stuff like this makes feminists look like fussbudgets and makes it harder to fix big, concrete problems like how to access health care without getting sexually assaulted.