So a while ago my first kid's passport had to be renewed. I agree with the ex-wife that I'll be the one to go to the passport office and renew it. Of course she has to sign it and list all her contact information first. And within a half hour of walking out of the office, she calls me up with this amused tone saying "Wow, the passport office just called me to ask if I really signed the application, because, you know, I guess they have a lot of problems with men running off with their kids to escape custody, and they had to make sure".

Fast forward to this month. The other kid needed a renewal too, but this time the ex is the one who drops off the paperwork, and I just list my own contact info and sign the application. Cue crickets chirping, dead silence from the passport office. Nary a call to be heard. Because this time it's the sainted woman applying. I guess it must be obvious to them that this verbally abusive, unstable, and manipulative shrew would never be capable of the same behaviour that every single one of those evil bastard men exhibit. Because, you know, vagina.

To clarify, I'm not worried about her running off with them. Just venting at yet another little example of equality in action, as demonstrated by the state through the power of my tax dollars at work.