Fundamentalism and (in)equality

Over the years I've noticed that male chauvinism tends to be fairly prevalent and consistent among most fundamentalist groups, regardless of branding. I've seen it with Christian, Muslim and Jewish fundamentalist groups. There's a kosher restaurant close to my house that I enjoy. It's owned by an orthodox Jewish guy. The owner is always polite to me, but one of his employees is a complete jerk. I've noticed he's rude to most of the female customers. He knows exactly how I like my falafel pita prepared and yet he never makes it the way I want it. As a result I (who rarely complains at restaurants) have stopped allowing him to touch my food. I found out recently that said jerkoff is getting married soon. Before I had the chance to ask who on earth would marry that moron, I was told it was an arranged marriage. I immediately felt sorry for his soon to be, extremely sexually frustrated and miserable, wife.

However, I can say that regardless of the fact that the owner is nice there are little things which make me realize the owner is a chauvinist too. They have 2 bathrooms. The men's room is the larger of the rooms and has it's own sink. The women's room is barely large enough for the toilet and women must use the sink in the hallway.

There are a number of orthodox Jewish women who frequent this restaurant with small children. In addition, it's a very basic scientific fact that due to physiology, women are going to get their hands messier in the restroom than men do. But the moron who owns the place gave the guys the larger restroom with the sink.

I remember going there one day for lunch when my son was about 6 months old. I had my boy bundled up in a sling. As I approached the door there were about 5 orthodox Jewish men blocking the entrance. I said, "Excuse me" about 3 times and finally one guy moved himself...less than a foot away from the door. I had to shove my way through. Now if I were in front of a door and someone was approaching with their hands full, regardless of whether or not it was a man or woman, I would open the door for them. It's just simple common courtesy. But there I was, with my arms full of a baby (yes he was in the sling, but I was still holding him) and the jerks couldn't even move their asses away from the door.

On the flip side, across town there is another kosher restaurant, with a similar menu. I actually like that place better but it's further from my home, so I don't go there as much. It's also family owned, by Jews. (I should probably clarify that I am, in fact, Jewish-although I'm reformed almost to the point of non-practicing.) At that restaurant the wife plays a strong role in running the place and I'm treated much better there. I think they treat women in general better; it definitely has a more egalitarian atmosphere. I'm fairly certain they aren't quite as religious as the owner of the other place.

Either way, it really irks me that the first restaurant treats women with such disdain. It really makes me feel like my business is not appreciated and it pisses off my feminist side. I think of all those bumper stickers that say, "What would Jesus do?" and it makes me wonder-what would Gloria Steinem do?