I do like the fact that Stuart’s first assumption is that she’s inexperienced, and not that she’s a woman. He has many flaws, but this at least means that’s not something he even considers a thing.
Later in the comic, Stuart reveals he actually respects Marla, despite their very stark differences. Back at the incident you’re referring to, he’s clearly uncomfortable with the fact he was about to say something very sexist to Marla. It’s quite possible he’s learned from that, and now her gender isn’t the first thing he thinks of.
He also had a legitimate reason to fear Connie – as he was a misogynistic jerk and an inept manager, she had more than enough reasons to fire him, and he was fully aware of this. Luckily for him, she also wasn’t fond of firing people unless she had to, but thankfully for Marla, his fears led to him adjusting his behavior enough to escape termination. Those changes stuck around even after Connie took a different job.
They could pay her less because she’s missing a Y-chromosome. End of story.
I do like the fact that Stuart’s first assumption is that she’s inexperienced, and not that she’s a woman. He has many flaws, but this at least means that’s not something he even considers a thing.
Check a couple of years earlier in the series, during the months when Connie was district manager.
Later in the comic, Stuart reveals he actually respects Marla, despite their very stark differences. Back at the incident you’re referring to, he’s clearly uncomfortable with the fact he was about to say something very sexist to Marla. It’s quite possible he’s learned from that, and now her gender isn’t the first thing he thinks of.
He also had a legitimate reason to fear Connie – as he was a misogynistic jerk and an inept manager, she had more than enough reasons to fire him, and he was fully aware of this. Luckily for him, she also wasn’t fond of firing people unless she had to, but thankfully for Marla, his fears led to him adjusting his behavior enough to escape termination. Those changes stuck around even after Connie took a different job.