Workplace

C

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I had an interview recently for a small charity – the kind of job where ‘lived experience’ (which I have nearly 50 years of) is valued. When I asked about the working arrangements, and explained my other commitments, I was asked – three times – how I would juggle, then how I would cope, then how I would manage the role. It’s a job that I’m overqualified for, and that pays poorly – but it’s the sort of job I have to apply for because of my caring responsibilities, age, financial situation etc. I am from the generation that was told that ‘we could have it all’ – what grade A bullshit that was.

KS

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I work as a data scientist at a tech company. AI hasn’t replaced this job yet, so I occasionally get recruitment messages from other tech companies on LinkedIn who are trying to hire in this field. On one such occasion, I received a message from a recruiter that described the data scientist they were looking for: “Educational background: Statistics/Machine Learning/Data Science; Should have some industry experience at least 1 year or so working in ML/DS in companies; Has done some coding in his projects (For example: hive, SQL, scala, pyspark, python, scikit, one of the tech mentioned above that is).” Upon reading it more carefully, I noticed it said “has done some coding in HIS projects.” What an unbelievably sad way to reveal the situation for many women in science and tech – that the recruiter and hiring team were already imagining a man for the job (even if subconsciously or accidentally) as they wrote up the requirements before they had even started reaching out to candidates.

Christiana Anon

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I work in a store. A few months ago, a man asked me on a date. Knowing how aggressive men can become at the word “no,” I deflected by talking about some new products in our store. A few days later, he came in and started to interrogate me about my life. He asked whether I have children. When I said no, he pointed out that I already have grey hairs. I said I don’t want children. And I don’t want to dye my hair. He asked how is it possible for a woman not to want children. I mentioned generally not seeing my role in the world as based on reproduction, the world’s overpopulation, etc., to which he scoffed, so what, you think you’re a hero? You think you can save the world? Being pressured to justify my unwillingness to reproduce, as well as my unwillingness to color my hair makes me feel like some object who is told off for not following some template of how to be in the world. It’s not something I want to waste my time and energy on. The aspect of being a store worker and the man being a customer, obviously, complicates the power dynamic further.

Susan

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When dealing with a male young person at work I was asked to sit on their face, I am old enough to be their mother. When I spoke to the young person’s support worker they said I should take it as a compliment it just shows the sexism is getting worse. If the mature men in our society think that it is okay for younger men to speak to women like that in the work place, how will things change for the better.

Bianca

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I am mixed race with curly hair. One day I was wearing braids and my boss saw them for the first time, he said: “oh no crazy hair today”. I was paled but replied that my hair is not crazy, to which replied “not today”

Indie

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i was in my 20’s working at coffee shop as barista, my manger at time use to constantly tell me he had dreams about me, whenever i was working with him i also worked with his GF. One day we were in small office space in the back counting my till when he switched off light and proceeded to attempt to bend me over desk.In a panic i reached my arm under me and grabbed his testicles. To this day i do not know how i manged it, but i did as he squealed i think in pain and suprise the lights were switched back on and it was treated as if it was all just ‘lad’ banter.

Anon

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I am the only woman working on an energy trading floor. When bonus’ were announced recently, I discovered that I was being paid 80% less than the nearest man, even though I am the most experienced person on the team.

3x

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When I was a brand new advanced emt student(just turned 18), my first ever time on an ambulance for a clinical, I was sexually harassed. My teacher’s partner had pulled me aside when he was gone, and was telling me about how « everyone’s going to want to fuck you, and i’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to too. Would you ever give me a chance? Your shirt is baggy but I can see what people will like about your body. » I was supposed to be learning. Later, I was told by a different teacher that I was a pedophile’s wet dream, and I looked young but legal. And his partner joked about how i’d be kidnapped at a hospital- by someone else in ems because i’m just so cute. I was laughed at when I told a paramedic I wanted to be a firefighter. « Really? You want to be a firefighter? With all those men? Good luck, you’ll need it. Why would you do that to yourself? »

Anonymous

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‘How do I explain this to you’ – A junior man in the business explaining to me something I’ve done for 6 years and who knows I’ve been in that company for 4 years in a similar role but assumed I wouldn’t understand something technical that he’s only just learned.

Yass

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I work in TV production with my brother, we have a TV project and there is a person who is the liaison with the president of the channel where we broadcast our TV show and whenever we meet he ignores me and I know that it is difficult for him to accept so much authority My brother has it like I do and he always ignores my proposals and ideas. Yesterday we had a discussion and honestly I feel overwhelmed and tired of his treatment. I deserve respect for my work because I’m good at what I do.