What do you call a Texas oilman?. . . Oh, waiter!
JayLeno, "Tonight" show
ITEM Once upon a time a woman met a taking frog. The frog said it was under a wicked speB… it was really a Texas oilman.
“If you’ll kiss me. youH break the spell.” the frog explained. "Then I’ll love you and take care of you the rest of your life" But the woman did nothing.
"What’s the matter?" asked the talkng frog.
"You must be kidding!" the woman said, laughing. "You can get a whole lot more for a talking frog!"
ITEM George Reeves, television’s Superman, had gone a long period without being able to find other acting jobs. He was now 45. Hrs fiancee watched him walk upstairs and heard hen pull open a drawer. She announced to friends, "He’s gong to kill himself " A few seconds later a shot rang out. Superman was dead. Superman had been unemployed.24
Many women report that rape leaves them feeling humiliated, violated, helpless, angry, guilty, self-blaming, depressive, lower in self-esteem, and
suicidal. Their vulnerability leaves them feeling powerless, as if the whole world were an elephant and they are an ant. Similarly, men who are fired or experience any of the three unemployments — underemployment, unemployment, and the fear of unemployment2′ — often feel humiliated, violated, helpless, angry, guilty, self-blaming, depressive, lower in self-esteem, and suicidal Their vulnerability leaves them feeling powerless, as if the whole world were an elephant and they are an ant
Unemployment deprives men of that which has given many men the respect and love of women, rape violates the body that has given many women the appreciation and love of men. Few men feel they chose unemployment, just as few women feel they chose to be raped
Of course, unemployment affects women and rape also affects men. But the unemployed man is the subject of ridicule. The unemployed woman is not (no Texas oilwoman jokes abound). The attractive, unemployed woman with the potential for being a homemaker is sought after by many men; the attractive, unemployed man with the potential for being a homemaker is not sought after by many women.
Despite the similarity between the unemployment of men and the rape of women, no one would dare joke about the worthlessness of a raped woman. When men are valued according to net worth, men begin to confuse net worth with self-worth. No hope for work means no hope for love means no hope for life. . . means suicide We will help men more when unemployment hotlines are as common as rape hotlines, when jokes about the unemployed man are as wtcommon as jokes about the raped woman.