What would you have done? Embarrassing!
By crazynurse
@crazynurse (7482)
United States
August 19, 2011 3:25pm CST
My husband and I both teach at a local community college. Classes resumed this week and of course lots of new students were on campus. I had the most embarrassing moment in all my years of teaching. A student in the back of the class raised their hand to comment on my leading question. Many students were talking out at one time and I said, "Shhh, lets hear what the young man in the back has to say, we haven't heard from him this morning." Several students snickered and the student in question turned bright red and finally a student said, " That is not a male....that is a female." I wanted to sink into the floor. What would you have done?!
3 people like this
10 responses
@phatchyck (25)
• United States
19 Aug 11
Well you are not the first or the last person to make that mistake. I would have said, "I apologize. I couldn't quite see you in the back of the room. Let's hear what you have to say." and move right along. If there is a long pause after such an error, it just makes everyone uncomfortable. I am sorry you had to experience that. I have people call me sir sometimes on the phone then they apologize. I always tell them it is no big deal and that my voice is bigger than my body thankfully. That seems to take the embarrassment away and we always laugh about it in the end.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
19 Aug 11
Like the responder above, commenting about my vision would have been such the obvious thing to say but I was so stunned that I went blank. I do wear contacts so could have easily made such a statement. I like you comment about your voice being bigger than your body. That is great!
1 person likes this
@phatchyck (25)
• United States
20 Aug 11
Contacts are great to cover visual mistakes. I have had to use it a few times before myself. Should you have a similar occurrence you could always say that you were very sorry but your contacts are blurry and you are having a difficult time distinguishing anyone's face. That usually creates a laugh. I used that one when I was working with some kids and called one kid another kid's name. Boy did they tease me on that one =)
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
19 Aug 11
What a great idea!! I so wish that I had thought quickly to say something like that. Instead I just stood there stunned for a minute. I don't wear glasses, but I do wear contacts and could have made a similar statement about them!
1 person likes this
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
21 Aug 11
Lol, I thought I was the only one who made mistakes like that! Definitely don't beat your ego over it, it was an honest mistake. I like the above posters comment about 'needing new glasses/contacts.' What I do when in that situation is if I'm not positive if it's a guy or gal, to leave gender out of whatever I'm saying. Quick story: Once I went to a friends holiday party, there was this person there that had short mannish hair, glasses, and clothing. Talk about 'gender neutral' (or whatever they're calling now-a-days.) Even the persons name was one of those 'could go either way' type names lol. We did talk with them, but even the voice left you guessing, and we never did figure it out. My opinion...if you're going to dress, talk, and act, so that nobody can tell if you're a female or a male, then they shouldn't get upset if nobody gets it right....that's my story and I'm stickin' to it haha. Better luck next time 'cause I know you wouldn't faux pas on purpose!
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
20 Aug 11
I would have blushed and apologized, but I can see how that happens. I gave blood yesterday and there was a nurse there who was named Cathy, but her hair was cut pretty well the way a military enlistee would look. Not shaved completely, but if I had not heard people call her by name and seen her lab coat, I would have thought she was a young man.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
21 Aug 11
Hi!
I would have instantly apologized to the girl. But I understand you for making the mistake. She's at the back and she's probably hidden by all the other students in front of her. Or maybe your eyes are getting old? 
Just kidding. 
Just kidding. 1 person likes this
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
20 Aug 11
Oh, how embarrassing that must have been for you. I know what that is like. There was this one time I have mistaken a woman for a man. I was at the local grocery store and had a question for a clerk at the store. I said "thank you, sir" after they have helped me and she said actually "I am a female". I felt really red in the face and apologized to her.
1 person likes this
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
20 Aug 11
Hi CrayNurse, I am sorry this embarrasing moment happened to you. But the only thing you could have done was to apologize to that person. I am sure this has happened to them before. You being a teacher have seen many people come through your class and that was an honest mistake. Don't beat yourself up about it. If it will make you feel better get the person alone one on one and apologize and see if that will make you feel better. Be blessed.
@daud4ms (218)
• United Arab Emirates
20 Aug 11
not your mistake, if that girl's get up was like boys then it natural for you to think of her as a male. Now a day really it had to say if one is male or female, we can judge only after viewing physical shape.
@johnai (2)
• Portugal
19 Aug 11
Ouch. Well don't beat yourself up about it, sometimes it's a very easy mistake to make. Presuming it's a large class i would have tried to shrug it off and say "Sorry, I couldn't see you very well back there."
