discriminated for being young

Something that happened in the office irritated and ticked me off today. It was one of my colleague’s birthday today. I’m some sort close to her. Her team leader (D) came down to my cubicle and asked what was installed for her celebration and all. Another topic that came up was everyone else’s birthday. D later asked our team’s secretary (H) to email all of our birthdays to her for keep sake. Well, H emailed all the whole team all of our birthdays. Day, Month and the Year we are all born.

Yes, as expected, I was the youngest of them all.

I don’t mind being the youngest, but sometimes I just feel like I’m treated differently because of that. Young, inexperience, fresh graduate and my first job. I’m always the “Eh Chian is the youngest what” “Aiyor, you cut your hair, macam budak kecil” “Eh you look like a school kid with your bag pack on”. Am\Was I annoyed with these statements? No definitely not. I mean these are all just jokes or comments. And I actually do agree with them sometimes.

Today was different though. I don’t know what ticked me. The team was circulating an email about ‘How to please a woman’ that contained 101 list of things that men should do to be that perfect man. There were comments from a few people and one my colleagues (S) commented “But you have to remember Men are microwaves and females are slow cooker”. Knowing S’s character, everything from S’s mouth are dirty jokes. So I thought of something sexual and laughed. Some of the others didn’t get it so they asked. S later explained to those who were sharing the same room with him.

I on the other hand who was secluded from the whole team didn’t know what was happening. Since I was taking a break, I replied the email with some logical explanation to the whole microwave and slow cooker thing. I later got a reply from X saying “you are so naïve”. …. *baboom* The email was only addressed to me. And later S replied “Yes, Chian you are so right. You are the smartest person in our department” *smells sarcasm in the air*

I felt I was insulted. I know it’s no issue. But I don’t know la. I was very sensitive today. Was there a reason to feel annoyed? Was there a reason to get pissed? I think I was wasting my energy with these emotions.

I felt I was picked on because I was the youngest. I felt so stupid. I mean its nothing to be proud of (or should I be proud of?), under standing dirty jokes and all but…don’t know la. I didn’t respond with answers that X perceived makes me naïve? I didn’t want to put unethical comments using the company’s email makes me naïve? If it was a one to one basis, I think I might give some 18sx comments, but the thing is the email was distributed to half of the people in my team.

Am I being discriminated for being young? Would I have not gotten the “you are so naïve” comments if I were older?