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Crazy ladies' &
women's only freebies-goodies-discounts specials
© Donald Reinhardt, July 24, 2012
What does "ladies only specials" really mean? Yes, there are freebies, goodies and discounted
specials for women and not for men in the 21st century America.
Non-discrimination I thought was eliminated? I think not – it still exists!
Oil change special
inducements for women and ladies
It was a simple ride down the highway and there it was: “$5
Off, Quick Oil Change for Ladies, Every Tuesday.” As a gentleman, I am
respectful and nice to ladies regularly and believe me there is no need for me
to list those ways. However, when I saw this sign, I became a bit concerned and
meditative. I really thought this was the era of equal opportunity and
non-discrimination and non-favoritism, yet there, right in front of me was a
case of favoritism and discrimination by the oil change and lubrication
company. Now, I like ladies and that includes the one I am married to and other
good ladies that I have met. In fact, in many ways I prefer ladies and tend to
discriminate in their favor on a personal basis. That’s because I think ladies
appreciate and sometimes need help when they ask for it and sometimes even when
they don’t ask for help. So, in a way, I discriminate in favor of ladies over
men. But this particular sign and advertisement started to weigh on me heavier
and heavier – first as a small anchor and then later almost as one as big as the
Titanic’s. Could an oil change company discriminate against men on Tuesday or
any day for that matter?
Laws against sex and
other types of discrimination – there are many
There are many laws that prohibit discrimination on the
basis of sex, race, nationality, religion and the like and that is evident by
the Federal EEO laws that
relate to employment. But this was not about employment – this was a case of
unequal discounting that favored the fair, supposedly-weaker and
definitely-living-longer female of the human species. Just as an aside to this
issue of laws, let me remind those who may not know or have forgotten that as a
nation the U.S. is really terrific at passing laws – lots and lots of them. We
even passed the large Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) of over 2,300
pages that no one in Congress actually read – that is one terrific
accomplishment for the U.S House and Senate and it shows how skilled we are as
a nation, but that is a story to be continued for another time and another place. Soon, however, I thought that perhaps I
missed a law that permitted oil changes for ladies only to be discounted, but
look as hard as I could I found none. Then I thought, could the oil company
actually deny a $5 discount on Tuesday to a man? Was it really legal? What if a
man said he felt like he was a woman? Believed he was a woman? Impersonated a
woman? What if a man brought his wife’s car and showed the registration and her
driver’s ID would that work? So, off to the oil-change manager I went and
proceeded to investigate because those are the kinds of things I often like to do.
Oil change “$5 Off, Ladies
Day” experiment and encounter
On Tuesday, July 24, 2012 off to the advertising “ladies day
special” oil change facility I went. I presented myself to the manager as someone
who wanted to get the ladies discount and was told that it was for ladies only but,
he said, "You look like a lady to me, so you can get the discount." He
smiled and I smiled and, since he was significantly larger and younger than I,
I decided not to contest his latter point at all. I also asked him if I
brought in my wife’s car and registration for that car would that be honored
and he said it would. The mission was accomplished. The bottom line is clear on
two major points: if you are a male and ask for a female discount you should be
prepared for anything to be said or happen and secondly, it is better to bring
your wife’s car and registration rather than suffer other consequences.
Yes, I checked the mirror when I got home after my visit to
the oil change facility and I noted my masculine five o’clock shadow and “man” body
all affirmed who I was. Nevertheless, it always takes a little time for a bruised
ego to recover. So, the next time I see “Ladies’ Day or Ladies’ Night” I will think twice and well and decide accordingly
what is my best course of action. I might even end up paying full, non-lady’s-discounted
prices for all things in the immediate and far future. That’s today’s word to
the wise from one man to another!
Ladies’ Day specials exist in many places. Photo credit: Vandenberg U.S. Air Force base
Women’s and ladies' specials treat females more favorably, like royality,
sometimes. Photo credit: Bellflower.org
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