Even though I am a psychiatrist with 8 years experience working in a mental institution, a masters in philosophy and a PhD in neuroscience going on, when I was invited to be the director of that hospital I had to hear from my own brother that “surely my husband managed” to give me that place. That was only one of the many times. Sexism is everywhere in Brazil.
During a dinner that hosted the company I work for and many other partner companies. I spent time chatting to many different people, as you would expect from a function of this type. On a whole, everybody was friendly however, one male colleague, the director of a company that we work with on a daily basis, kept looking at my body more that at my face when we were chatting. We spoke about my plans to peruse postgraduate education and my ambitions the future. The following day he offered the services of the company to me, should I need them, when I relocate later in the year. Do I take him up on the offer and hope that the intention was purely to provide help for someone trying to better themselves. Or do I decline, due to the thought that if I had worn a loose fit top and trousers, the offer may not have come my way.
I didn’t get a senior marketing role in a national construction company, because I’m female. The Director said that I interviewed very well but they felt that the Site Managers would pay more heed to a male in that role (brand management). This was 9 years ago and it still rankles – particularly as the comment came from a female Director.