Rita, I'm sure that the Canadian culture must be very similar to ours down here in the lower 48. It sounds as though your complaint is mostly focused around the inequities of commerce and marketing. I too have the same complaint.
Why is it that in too many commercials, it is the man whom is the idiot while the women always "saves the day"? I am greatly offended by this. Without even beginning to tabulate the results of the labors of men through history; I'm the one who must program the TV channels, or digital thermostat while I'm opening the jar, vacuuming (because its so heavy), and folding the lundry. Why can't men get the recognition for mowing the lawn, doing the oil change and building the shed? Why are men ALWAYS the ones maligned as fools in commercials?
The answer is quite simple. It would not be politically correct to insult women the way men are insulted 6 to 10 times an hour, every hour, every day on TV or radio. Is this an inequity, OF COURSE IT IS! I feel your pain although be it for different reasons.
By the way, a barber will charge the same price no matter what the gender, while a hair stylist will over charge the female. The last time I checked, most barbers are male while most stylists are female.
As far as gender specific cars, it has been my experience that if women "think" it was made for them, they'll buy it, and usually spend too much in the process. This phenomenon is best exemplified by the marketing of the Saturn a few years ago. It was marketed as a "chick" car and chicks responded in kind for an overpriced vehicle.
Why do women continue to pay more than men for less product? You'll really have to ask them, but they always do. 5th Avenue knows this, and therein lays the root of all this evil. A real focus for N.O.W. would be to start a boycott of any products guilty of this marketing, but I don't see that happening in the near future.
I'm on you side Rita (believe it or not), and as far as a women president, It never even concerned me that Hillary is a female. We'll see what happens.
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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"