Am I saying just that because I'm a relatively unaffected old white bloke?
Probably. Just as much as I say what I say as a woman.
You know, all my life I've encountered sexism in the workplace - my first day on Fleet Street was to have to get the tea for all the photographers (who were all men) as 'a woman, I was told that was my job', despite having a degree in photography and worked my way up from local papers and agencies - and was headhunted by one of the nationals which is unheard of.
I know how to play the game, I've worked harder to be accepted in a male environment, to be considered 'one of the lads'. But I shouldn't have had to, it should've been down to my skill as a snapper.
Prior to my job as a newspaper snapper, I worked doing varied jobs. I've been pinned up against the wall and groped in a store room in a factory. I've been groped in a darkroom while doing a months paid work on a Xmas toy catalogue by my boss who was old enough to be my dad. I've been touched sexually doing office work and had sexual comments. I've been groped in pubs/nightclubs, I've been grabbed at night, walking home and just got away and ran (luckily very close to home). I've had innuendo after innuendo growing up by my brothers friends and other folk in pubs. I've shrugged it off and accepted most of it - up to a point as that was my generations way. I've always always been headstrong and when appropriate pulled people up on it, on rare occasions in the office, reported higher when my initial 'not acceptable mate' is ignored.
I shouldn't have had to.
I repeat - I shouldn't have had to.
Anything that makes folk talk, even if arguing about this issue is good as it raises it to the front and if one single bloke 'gets it' then am happy. If I can do anything to help another woman growing up and not have to deal with the same ****e that I dealt with then that's great. Being woke, yes, I happily accept being woke as it's miles better than being the unkind silly old bloke who calls me that. He's not understanding, he can't move on from living in a cave.