Today a female jockey, Michelle Payne, won the Melbourne Cup. It’s the first time it’s ever happened.
Up until now it’s just been glorious man after glorious man.
A lot of people celebrated this glass ceiling breaking fact but it got me thinking, what if competent women are allowed into other male dominated workplaces?
It made me realise that it could force incompetent white men out of jobs! It would be a bloodbath everywhere, on corporate boards especially.
The worst thing about this all is that Payne beat competent men too and on a 100-1 longshot. She seems to be not only competent but really, really good at jockeying.
The whole thing terrifies me. As a white middle aged man I’ve always relied on the deck being stacked in my favour despite me doing nothing to deserve it.
I’ve succeeded time-and-time again because I look like someone who in the credits of a movie would be ‘guy in meeting’. No one questions me being there or even judges it. They just think, ‘that guy looks like he should be here’.
Imagine if people started ignoring that and cared about my performance instead?
If non-white non-middle age non-men can overtake me on 100-1 longshots, I might have to actually start working hard and not rely on centuries upon centuries of social conditioning to coast on through.
So while everyone is celebrating a Melbourne Cup winner, my world is spinning. Thanks a lot Michelle Payne!
Oh well, at least I have the inertia of societal change on my side.
COMMENTS
Grant Pilling
Nov 03, 2015
She'll probably want equal pay just for winning too.
Kit Ho
Nov 03, 2015
Tom Moodie Andrew Lenga Ronan O'Donnell lel.
Cameron Sloan
Nov 03, 2015
Samantha Lane Nathan Douch Matt Fenwick
Samuel Arnfield
Nov 03, 2015
Thomas Blake. The audacity of it all!
Ashley Mrocki
Nov 03, 2015
If she can do it, Jack Watts can play AFL.
Cmon!!
Debie Allen
Nov 03, 2015
I understand your tongue in cheek but great day for Michelle - women
Jennifer Allison
Nov 03, 2015
Women in sport!
Michael Charlton
Nov 03, 2015
If Michelle payne can win the melbourne cup. Richmond can win a final. U0001f61b
Rod Garside
Nov 03, 2015
Male wins Melbourne cup. Female rides him. Sound familiar?
Joey Crichton
Nov 03, 2015
Michael Denier dead @ heading
Ani Jordens
Nov 03, 2015
Omg hahaha brilliant
Julie Maguire
Nov 03, 2015
Dees premiership 2016'''....
Matthew Pope
Nov 03, 2015
False. If a woman can win a Melbourne Cup, Hawthorn can win a premiership. Oh wait on...
Rosalie Schmosalie
Nov 03, 2015
How the hell did she get out of the kitchen?
Adam Richards
Nov 03, 2015
Richmond could do with her ability to cope under pressure when the stakes are high
Kelly Higgins Devine
Nov 03, 2015
Don't give up that white, male privilege without a fight, Titus! Surely there's an MP who can take up your cause?!
Riley Thomas
Nov 03, 2015
Nick Musso Jake Vevers Lewis Bear Tyson Wood worrying stuff
David Kooy
Nov 03, 2015
The world will end
Riley Thomas
Nov 03, 2015
Jordan Bartter James Kerr Ben Maude start of a trend?? Concern
Mike Sargeant
Nov 03, 2015
If she used the whip, yes
Tyler Barnes
Nov 03, 2015
Josh Barnes the article and the comment hahaha
Kristine Evans
Nov 03, 2015
Lawl u guyz r so funny how did u cum up with such good jokez?? I luvd da social comentary on how da system dat causes women 2 earn less is da same system dat condems them 4 it LOLZ thats wot u were doing right??
sheppo
Nov 03, 2015
Working in the marine industry I wish competent women would start working with us. After 30 years of working in a male dominated environment is just plain boring. Just seems women don't like driving boats, but they are obviously good at riding a geegee.
Tyler Winton
Nov 03, 2015
Mia Zaccardo obviously satirical but still very funny!
Mia Zaccardo
Nov 03, 2015
Hahaha that's great :D
Brian Grant
Nov 03, 2015
The Cup needed cleaning obviously
Billious
Nov 03, 2015
Thank God we finally get a victory speach in a voice that sounds and looks like a woman instead of just the female high pitch audio of the past 155 years from the blokes.
Paul Huddart
Nov 03, 2015
It was a great effort mate. The horse has actually been at Darren Weirs wangoom stable doing some lead up work in preparation for the cup. He is back at wangoom tonight after his mighty effort. Wangoom now have a melb cup winner. We had a small wager on him at huge odds. Michelle Payne produced a super ride.
Kerryn Edwards
Nov 03, 2015
Titus continues to outdo himself, even out of footy season!
Alex Jones
Nov 03, 2015
Ease up Kristine. No one cares mate.
Jane OReilly
Nov 03, 2015
Loves a chat
Jeff Nixon
Nov 03, 2015
Nothing funny about this post. She has clearly earned her place in racing history. Congratulations Ms Payne.
Duran Lauros
Nov 03, 2015
The whole liberal party.
Noni Primrose
Nov 03, 2015
Best of all she wore pearl earrings!!! Love that to pieces. Also the colours are those of the suffragette movement.....did you know that?
tonyb1971
Nov 03, 2015
Can someone please translate the above?
The Original Buzz
Nov 04, 2015
What?
Stej Bosnjak
Nov 04, 2015
Didn't that former cricket guy blame women for Australia losing the Ashes?
Narmada Thiyagarajah
Nov 04, 2015
Stop Animal racing and cruelty to animals. I don't care about this battle of the sexes in this matter.
Steven Dearnley
Nov 04, 2015
Got more chance of winning TATTSLOTTO
Dmac McKail
Nov 04, 2015
Loretta Cormick James MacCubbin Alec McPhee
Kaitlyn Wade
Nov 04, 2015
Roannah Wade satirically genius
JohnBiddle
Nov 26, 2015
Maybe it's just that the white blokes in charge of coming up with the odds on the horse winning were in fact really incompetent, and the horse that carried her around was actually way better than any other horse running.