[toki5]

Where you see malice and oppression, in this article, I see insensitivity and maybe a little ignorance.

There is a big difference between a dumb question, which I think her friend asked, and a personal attack; that difference is intent. Considering this was one of her "best friends," I really doubt that that was his goal here.

That's not to say she shouldn't have felt hurt -- a dumb question can still sting -- but please don't make this specific molehill into a mountain.

[calibraxis]

Racists and sexists generally aren't moustache-twirling villains cackling about who to oppress next. They are simply people who internalized these strange -isms in their culture. (If you doubt this, simply look at gendered dress codes. Many men would literally rather die than wear "women's clothes" everyday.)