Stop Nurturing Old Stereotypes
I’m just a customer, browsing books in the department store’s book section near the checkout, when I hear a panicked voice over the walkie of one of the employees:
Employee: “We’ve got a child, maybe five or six, no parent in sight. He’s fine, just lost. Anyone free to stay with him until Mum shows?”
The child is sitting cross-legged by the luggage section, happily eating raisins. All the employees are men. They glance at each other, then, in perfect unspoken agreement, swivel and look at me, the lone female nearby.
Employee: “Uh… hey, would you mind just keeping an eye on him for a minute?”
Me: “I’m a stranger in a store. You’re all wearing name tags and earpieces. And I’m the best option because…?”
Employee: “You know. You seem… nurturing.”
Before I can respond, a woman runs in from the other side of the store, frantic and near tears.
Mother: “Oh my god, there you are! I turned around for one second, thank you, thank you, thank you—”
Reunited, kid’s fine, mom’s fine. Everyone breathes again. The employees start drifting off, clearly hoping the situation’s been smoothed over.
As I walk past the group of staff, I smile sweetly and say:
Me: “You know, next time you find a lost child, maybe try paging a manager instead of the nearest uterus.”
I purchased the book somewhere else.