Déjà vu

This is a story told so many times over and over... but I can't help but find it appalling... During a practical yesterday, a student asked a question and after the (female) TA showed the procedure on the computer, the student (very candidly) said "Oh so that's how to do this! So-and-so, the previous (male) TA never wanted to show me because it was useless since I am a girl!"

Of course, this was probably said on a "joking" tone... and, of course, questions from student can be tedious after several hours crammed in a computer room with unfocused students.

But.

I still find this:
-not funny at all
-inacceptable
-unhelpfull
-discouraging.

This is just one more anectode to the mount of stories showing that there is still a long way to go... if only to show these girls they can do it too...