Firstly, the weather was strangely warm today so when I stepped out to go shopping in my scarf & coat I immediately boiled, but I couldn't be bothered to go back and change. I wasn't sure if it was just because the sun was shining & I was in black jeans that I got hot.
I went to the supermarket and when I came home I had 4 bags full of food. I'm pretty strong and capable so I was having no problems carrying them - I'm the bag lady when I go shopping with my mother dearest in England so carrying 4 bags was nothing. I came into my dormitory and saw some of my Russian dorm companions - one of them being a boy I'd been introduced last night during our discussion of our plans for our Halloween Party (another story for another time) anyway - he said hello to me and said "May I please help you?". Instantly my Western feminist brain sprang into action - who was this man to be asking me if he could help me? What did he think I was weak or incapable of carrying my own shopping? How dare he?
Then I realized - here in Russia they do think that. Men are seen as the superior & stronger sex and Women are weaker and need to be helped. So whilst he mortally offended me as a Westerner, if I was a Russian I would have just expected it as normal. I smiled and said "Alright, thank you". He carried my shopping up one flight of stairs for me and to my door. Incredibly sweet & thoughtful but a massive offence to me as an independent, free & intelligent woman.
I mean I'm not a raving feminist, it's just that whenever a man gives his seat up for you on the tube in London it's only ever because he thinks you're pregnant. Which at 19 when you're wearing a baggy mens jumper, just had a 3 hour exam and you're stressed because you need to get to work in Westminster & the Jubilee line is experiencing severe delays is a MASSIVE offence. Also men in the UK never offer to help me carry things, I'm always struggling up the stairs in the tube or at the station with my suitcase or bags and NO-ONE ever offers to help me! Thus when this charming Russian offered to help me my natural response was to be offended - that's just because I'm not used to being treated this way! Though I think it's better if I don't get used to this because I'll just come back at Christmas and be totally disappointed when I travel in London again. *sigh*
I mean I'm not a raving feminist, it's just that whenever a man gives his seat up for you on the tube in London it's only ever because he thinks you're pregnant. Which at 19 when you're wearing a baggy mens jumper, just had a 3 hour exam and you're stressed because you need to get to work in Westminster & the Jubilee line is experiencing severe delays is a MASSIVE offence. Also men in the UK never offer to help me carry things, I'm always struggling up the stairs in the tube or at the station with my suitcase or bags and NO-ONE ever offers to help me! Thus when this charming Russian offered to help me my natural response was to be offended - that's just because I'm not used to being treated this way! Though I think it's better if I don't get used to this because I'll just come back at Christmas and be totally disappointed when I travel in London again. *sigh*
