I Say This as a Stereotype

[eumelia]

I very nearly wrote a little post on my way home, on Officer Kalakaua, but refrained. I'm getting better at reading on commute, but writing is something else entirely.

Would not like to vomit on my little tablet.

I'm finding myself less and less tolerant of the casual humour that is dropped at the office. We are a very casual team, very little formality and thankfully we all get along quite well.

As I've mentioned, the team leader and manager, i.e. my boss is a woman, of the seven team members, four are women, three are men (two of whom are gay) - due to this dynamic, there are a lot of funny anecdotes concerning gay life - we very much throw around the "That's so gay" at each other (my gay co-workers and I, that is) - but that's the mild things.

But sometimes, I remember that the straight people are there, witnessing this. My co-workers are unconcerned, it seems, but I'm also, how shall we say, more "sensitive".

[The Heterosexist] sees fit to insert herself into all the gay funnies that are hurled around the office, inevitably, they are full shit and made of fail.

I mean, sure, our co-worker talks about approaching a guy who pinged his gaydar in a store for help to shop for clothes and what a funny encounter that was, that is totally an invitation by a straight woman to talk about a guy she knew was gay and overcompensated by flirting with women and was probably "of those who didn't know how to handle it."

I hate her.

I know, this is by no means a hostile environment, on the contrary, but I keep getting the feeling she considers the our co-workers as existing for her entertainment and I am irked by her.

It doesn't help that one of the things my co-workers and I do is make fun of stereotypes (speaking af a lesbian stereotype) and yes, everyone laughs and then I remember we're laughing for utterly different reasons.

Not to mention, that there are subjects I will not tolerate joking about either in mixed (as in, not exclusively queer) company, or at all, and those are jokes about AIDS, jokes that are homophobic and/or sexist, and rape jokes.

So, I'm the fuddy-duddy, except when I make the driest observation, the funniest sex joke and the best turn of phrase.

My workplace problems, let me show them to you.

As I said, I really love my team, but [the Heterosexist] annoys me to a degree I didn't think was possible. I feel justified seeing as she's racist on top of it all.

Regardless, tomorrow I have to dress nicely, the Big Giant Head is visiting from the United States. I have to decide which plunging neckline to wear and which earrings will make a statement! What? I'm working on a Fashion Week project.

Comments

[dharma_slut]

This is why so many minority folk will visibly shut down the chatter when a majority person approaches. Can't afford to encourage them.

[eumelia]

Word. Thankfully, she's going on Holiday for a few weeks, so that's helpful. I wish the boys were a little bit more politically savvy, but they don't seem to care.

[silveradept]

So, you have to look pretty for the bigwig and flatter them?

(Sounds like the Heterosexist is going to be that person whom nobody talks to or around, except for work and only when absolutely necessary.)

[eumelia]

I try to look nice everyday, but as the manager told us at a meeting, we need to do as we normally do, but perform it for the Uncle from America.

She is very grating. Hopefully while she is away everyone will feel the difference and we can be civil and not try to be friendly.

[st_aurafina]

Ugh, no! I'm so sorry you work with an insensitive clot.

*hugs*

[eumelia]

*hugs* Thanks. Yes, insensitive, that's exactly what she is.

[ironed_orchid]

I wish there was a joking way to say to the other queer colleagues, in front of the Heterosexist, "Hey, the funniest thing happened the other day, I was talking with my queer buddies about a funny thing that happened while being gay, and some het chick who didn't get the point joined in and made it all about her clueless interactions with other queer people. I guess that's more sad than funny, but what can we do except laugh."

[eumelia]

Haha! I try not to be passive aggressive in my life, especially not in the workplace. But she may be worth it.

[ironed_orchid]

Heh, yeah, that is a good goal. But I don't see any other way to wield this particular clue bat.