I was working in a prestigious position at a famous museum in the UK, and it was horrible. During the job interview I had to answer questions about my sexuality and periods, but that was just the start. My line manager often told me that he thinks I should get “beatings, many fun beatings” to learn and do what he demanded of me (things that weren’t part of my job description). Ideas I had were ignored, only to be parrotted later by my male colleagues who were promptly praised for them.
At one time I was talking about doing my PhD with a high up from the department, and he told me that women cannot work in my field, because we do not have a penis – but that there’s hope for me, because I have a “male brain”.
I did not know what to say, but it made me deeply uncomfortable. I regret now not having said anything.
