Truth bomb time: I cannot stand being asked, only by men "IF" I work. There is so much difference between being asked "Do you work?" versus being asked "What do you do?" I'm also 54, and that for most Americans is still the age to be in the career world. I just find it odd how this question has come up recently quite a lot, and I suspect age-ism. I mean, it could be the Great Resignation, but I have my doubts and suspicions.

I've found over the years that the only people who ask me IF I work are traditional, conservative men. I highly suspect that the rest of that question is left unspoken, since actually voicing it would mark them as traditional and conservative. The full question is, "Do you work, or are you a housewife?"

This outs them as seeing women in an extremely traditional role, and on some level, they know this. I despise this perspective. I cannot say how much contempt I have for any male who thinks this.

I tend to push back by asking them the same question, but going a little further: Do you work? Have you ever worked? Quite often they don't catch the implied condescension they've just shown to me. Yep, a shit-test, but one that works. They out themselves as being traditional, conservative, AND insensitive. That's my cue to block, delete, and move on, very little time wasted.

Ladies, what other questions do men ask that show you who and what they are? I'm interested.