Cycling in traffic: it's a bit like being female

The entire system has been designed for people other than you, who have more physical and political power. Most are happy to let you exist within it as long as you don't get in their way too much. Some are magnanimous enough to allow a few minor tweaks at the edges, like a scrap of parental leave or some Magic White Paint by the side of the road - and think you should be grateful for that, because it ought to make everything all right. If you ask for more fundamental changes, you're clearly a bitter inadequate whiner who wants to stop everyone else from getting anywhere or having any fun.

Some of them think it's OK to yell at you and distract you, or jolly funny to threaten and scare you. And when this or anything else unpleasant happens, somebody's sure to tell you it's your own damn fault for not being submissive enough, not being assertive enough, wearing the wrong clothes, or simply going where you don't belong.

Submitted to Scientiae.