They say women don’t ask. Women who ask, negotiate on their own terms, are viewed unfavourably to put it mildly. In my personal experience, I’ve been asked to “not argue” because it’s unladylike, accept what I’m getting with gratitude and not push for more (womanly virtues), blah, blah, blah . . .
Mother-figures and aunts impress upon us the value of subservience, and a woman who asks doesn’t exactly fit into the good girl/daughter/bahu/girlfriend mould.

Is it any wonder then that I am a regular reader of this blog ? La Roxy, of the Daily Asker, started a 365 day experiment in asking; she asked for something everyday for a whole year. Says she on her blog :

Prompted by a book I started reading today, Women Don’t Ask, about how women’s reluctance to negotiate costs them millions of dollars individually — not to mention the collective losses — I decided, quite spontaneously when I got to the bottom of page 7, to try asking.

Perks. Discounts. Upgrades. 2 for 1. 3 for 2. A better restaurant seat. Application of an expired 20 percent coupon. Salary boost. Access to discretionary funds. Lower insurance rate.

Interesting stuff.