Context: We’re in a bit of a heat wave and my daughter loves to cool down by splashing in water. Today was no different.
Once she was done, I say to her “Let’s get you out of that wet dress. I imagine it must be uncomfortable. I’ve never actually worn a wet dress before”.
Before I can follow that up with “I’ve worn wet clothes before, and that’s not the nicest”, my wife jumps in and claims that me saying I’ve never worn a wet dress is sexist.
Is it?
You’re probably focusing on the wrong thing. My guess is that while you think she was reacting to what you said, she was probably reacting to something else. For example, if you have boys who wore wet clothes without comment, or if you yourself have worn wet clothes without complaint, she might think it sexist to presume a female is required to be more modest than a male. She might have thought you were acting as if your immature child was vamping like she was in a wet t-shirt contest rather than a squirmy toddler (no idea what age your girl is, tho) and that your reaction was too embarrassed. It could have been a number of things, but you’d have to ask her to find out.