What do you think of this?

Question

http://www.slate.com/id/2177697/nav/tap3/

dana: If you didn't open it then shut-up!

Ronnie:(and others) I notice so many of you assume you know my opinion or stand on this, how dare you have the audacity to think you know my thoughts or feelings on a subject, I have given no prelude to! I asked for YOUR thoughts and have yet to state any of my own on for this case. If you can't answer the question without trying to project, then just stay off the question. Seriously!

Answer 1

i have worked in a cafe for years. i have never noticed women being served less efficiently than men, and i know i haven't done it. i will tell you, form experience, women usually do order more complicated drinks, while men choose things like straight coffee. i'm not saying the drinks are"frou-frou" ,but a woman is more likely to get a vanilla latte than a cup of black coffee in my experience. women also tend to engage you in more conversation than the average man; that's not a bad thing, but does eat time. also, women are more likely to ask more questions about a product to make sure they're getting exactly what they want, while many men just tell me to "make them something good".

note that there are exceptions to every rule, but as a barista for over 3 years, i am just stating what i have personally experienced.

Answer 2

Since the sample is far too narrow to demonstrate anything but a local trend, the chances of this being true across the States or world is practically nil. However it is slightly significant that this takes place in Boston, practically the birthplace of feminism and one of the most leftist cities in the world. It wouldn't surprise me if men who are totally in tune with feminism tend to treat women with at least marginal contempt. You can be certain that male shopkeepers in pre-feminist times would never have done so. They knew very well who buttered their bread and treated women with deference and exaggerated respect. Now that women are not only politically equal but presumed to be exactly the same as men with a few plumbing differences, contempt is the only thing a man can feel towards many of them, because if a man acted like them he would engender universal contempt among other men. It's a side effect or unintended consequence of 2nd & 3rd wave feminism, and it'll get continually worse so long as everyone assumes that there are no mental or emotional differences between men and women. Women are just going to have to get used to contempt from men who believe post-feminist theses.

Answer 3

I have never had this happen to me, BUT
I tip
I smile,
and I am friendly

- Personally I agree that we women tend to be MORE needy
Eg. I like 3 scoops of regular sugar NOT THE SQUIRTS
then add the coffee ( french Vanilla)
and then very light, but NOT too light
GO LARGE

So I can see where that takes more time and can be annoying, as opposed to Large FV lite and sweet

Plus I always get a garlic bagel toasted, with butter and egg,
NO CHEESE

Most guy order right off the menu,
where we women WANT IT OUR WAY.

PLus I have noticed most of the guys leave their change
and hardly any of the girls Do,


Good link tho, thanks

Meg

Answer 4

I live in Utah where there is a social prejudice (Mormans vs caffeine ) against coffee so when ever I go into the shop I have always found the staff helpful and nice giving fast service to everyone.
to discriminate against anyone person would cost a coffee shop here way to much.
However in my travels I will say that in Rhode Island and Boston my husband and I noticed that when I gave him my order in line then step out of the line that we got our drinks faster than anyone else.

Answer 5

I found this interesting...

"There is also evidence that blacks wait longer than whites, the young wait longer than the old, and the ugly wait longer than the beautiful. But these effects are statistically not as persuasive."

...and implausible.

Though, as others pointed out, a set of shops in a single city may not be representative. But I also know Boston from my college days and I guarantee blacks get worse service for many things.

Answer 6

That was interesting. I have always held to Becker's theory that discriminatory practices in competitive businesses would end themselves, as all the business went to other companies and they lost out on bright minority and female employees.

However, this sheds some new light on that principle. The coffee shops still lose out, if women subconciously feel like they're getting treated poorly, so a company that activly reverses this practice could really get ahead. Great link, thanks for the interesting information.

Answer 7

8 coffee shops in Boston is not a statistically significant data set. While these findings may be true - studies that don't actually prove anything and water down the findings with social commentary may unintentionally disable any possibility of change that could arise from said study. This will basically become urban legend and disappear from our psyche in two weeks - rather than become an important social question.

Answer 8

OK hala l; Here's my opinion: We have, currently a megalomaniac President, who seems to be determined to start a world war. The sun is melting the glaciers of the Earth, Children are starving to death in Africa. The Chinese are polluting the planet and the Brazilians are cutting the Rain Forest down. the Veterans hospitals are filling up with men and women, who have heinous wounds. Gas is at $3.00/Gal.
And there is some yahoo out there, whose giving their God-given energy to the determination of gender preference in coffee houses. It makes me angry!!

Answer 9

Yeah, at times it happens, still, when I read the article I noticed that the women seemed to order fancier coffees that took longer to prepare, unless I was mistaken. What could be going on is, a stab at a wild guess, since we're speaking of coffee, is that it's a manly drink, so naturally the men will get the best service. As for the rest perhaps they're not as buys as men; another wild guess.

Answer 10

Don't care. Think it's a non-issue. Some people are just looking for things to get offended about.