Well, actually I do believe that almost all American men behave badly in groups. It isn't that every man participates, but that those who do not are silent, rather than objecting seriously to the tone of the conversation, which I understand is rather lighthearted.
I do believe that devoutly religious men in church groups probably do not behave this way, and the point about my husband is that it is not normal male conversation in Northern Ireland, where he comes from.
I do know that one of the reasons men were so uncomfortable about women going to work in droves after centuries of the workplace being an almost all-male bastion, is that their freedom to act in this way is significantly curtailed. In my work experiences, the men are polite and refined when women are around, almost CAREFUL, but are obviously relieved when they are not, even among top executives. At this level it is not so much lewd comments about women that is the issue, but rather that men are more careful in their choice of language when women are present, and are more uninhibited--even talking about company business--when they can use colorful words. |
