Frigid offices, freezing women, oblivious men: An air-conditioning investigation

The Washington Post ^ | July 23, 2015 | Petula Dvorak

[MinorityRepublican]

You can spot them. The frozen ones who come outside at lunch like sun-seeking turtles, cardigans balled up next to them, bare shoulders defrosting in the noon sunlight, no matter how wilting it is outdoors.

Every single woman I talked to in downtown Washington on a hot, humid July afternoon was thawing out.

“I. Am. Fuh-reezing. Feel my hand, I’m still cold,” said Ruth Marshall, 64, who was seated on a park bench, face to the sky. And yes, her hand felt like a cold steak.

“I have to come out here for 30 minutes at a time just to warm up,” said Marshall, the director of administration at a construction firm, where the air-conditioning is set to Arctic.

It’s the time of year desperate women rely on cardigans, Pashminas and space heaters to make it through the work week in their frigid offices. And their male colleagues barely notice.

[Lurker]

Words fail.

[riri]

This is an east coast humidity phenomenon, mostly. It drives me crazy. There has to be better ways to cut humidity than sitting in a room that is 48 degrees.

[Cowboy Bob]

I always heard that women had an extra layer of fat on them. But they are always complaining of the cold.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

They could do what I did and dress in layers. I put on or took off my jacket or vest as needed. I also did not wear clothing more suited for the beach then the office.

[samtheman]

Marshall explained how frustrating it is to put on a pretty, summer outfit and then get hit with that blast of cold. “And you have to put on some jacked-up sweater you left at your desk.”

And the victims of ISIS and Boko Haram whine and complain, like the whiners and complainers they are, while there is real suffering going on in DC.

Wow.

[pfflier]

How ironic that this story should coincide with one on yahoo stating that euroweenies think Americans are too enamored with AC.

Soon we'll get "the lecture" about wasting energy from those enamored with global climate change.

[GOPJ]

Baby parts are being sold... and this is the liberal ‘outrage’?

Shame on them.

[Sacajaweau]

I think women tend to over-bundle. That leaves them susceptible to any coolness.

Learn to live without your sweater girls!!

[VerySadAmerican]

It’s a trick to get the womens’ nips showing.

[dware]

My wife and I have issues over the temp in the house. Cold blooded women. That’s the issue.

[Patriotic1]

Because it’s easier to add clothing than to subtract it...

[Patriotic1]

I'm cold blooded but am comfortable in a range of temps. Perhaps the problem is hot blooded men?

Hmmmhhh... naw - that's a good thing in my book!

[Mariner]

77 for an office environment is just plain silly.

Silly.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

And I thought Auschwitz was bad.

[MinorityRepublican]

I always heard that women had an extra layer of fat on them. But they are always complaining of the cold.

They aren't dressed appropriately.

[dware]

It’s so bad in my house, my wife sleeps under at least 3, but oftentimes 4 or 5 blankets - blankets, mind you, not sheets, but thick blankets. I use 1 blanket, and sometimes that gets kicked off for half the night.

[lee martell]

Frigid women used to be seen as a big problem. That was long ago, before they heard Helen Reddy ROAR!

[beaversmom]

Microaggressions against women. As evil as man-spreading, I tell ya. I never knew how victimized I’ve been over the years.

[ctdonath2]

Following that reasoning, set the thermostat to 98.6. No insulation needed.