by Alison Tennant

Created on: February 12, 2009   Last Updated: February 13, 2009

THERE'S A SAYING "we have to be twice as good as men to even be thought half as good. Fortunately, being women, that's not difficult!".

So let's use our intelligence, our physical and cerebral strength, and our feminine wiles to beat them.

Men do stereotype us, yes. But they're not NECESSARILY negative stereotypes.

Some are distinctly positive: we're better with children, we're better in the kitchen, we're cleaner, we're more fashion-conscious, we're sexier, we're tidier.

So, use them!

We can overcome the negative stereotypes by, as the song says, accentuating the positive. I'm a taxi driver. The fact that I'm good at my job has to go on hold.

But I carry toys for the kids, so their parents like me. I have a (disinfected) hospital 'bottle' for little boys, so their mothers like me (and don't have to hold their sons up to the window, as one mother did!). I ensure that my car is spotless, so bosses like me. I look reasonable, so male clients like me. And I know where everything is, so regulars like me.

In turn, a good reputation, and the fact that I'm a better driver than any man can be taken off hold and brought into play.

Now, I'm winning on all sides. If I hadn't used my feminine strengths (and looked after the children and my appearance), I wouldn't have been recognised.

I know that you're thinking "but should we have to?"

Well, should be have to wear tampons or use toilet paper?

No - but unless we want to end up with blood or urine around our legs, we do.

So, use your good points and you can 'overcome' stereotypes. If that still sounds as if I'm playing on their side (I think sports metaphors are allowed here?), what I mean is that once I've proved my so-called feminine abilities, I move on and prove that I'm as good as them at so-called 'masculine' abilities.

It may sound like a lot of work, but it isn't now: having established myself through the former activities, I'm now free to behave 'as a man', maintain my cars to the same standard as a man, and drive them tio a higher standard. If necessary I can play football (soccer) with the men, I can curse with them, and I can drink them under the table.

If that sounds like I've merely 'become a man' to overcome stereotypes, l'd argue and offer evidence of my feminine attractions and wiles. But that doesn't matter. I'm happy and, in whatever way and for whatever reason, I've overcome sexual stereotyping.

So my answer to the question is 'Yes'.

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