V M: 2.13 $/h is pretty inhuman, but that aside, I don't know about the US, but here, there are two minimum wages: the normal one, and the one for people who can get tips. It's something like 10 $/h normal and 8 $/h with tip, I think. Maybe this is why what misschievous is describing happens.
Megan S: Depends, depends. People have some sort of inherent respect for women; not for men. In my experience it's more risky to be a "furshlugginer gay ->-bleeped-<-got" (yes that's very gay) than a woman. Especially ugly woman. Let's not lie to ourselves: a lot of the attacks on women are motivated by their looks.
misschievous: Pssst, waiter/waitress, not server! Server is a machine! :p By the way, are you of French origin? Because that sounds like a mistake us French people do. o:
Edited for profanity