Even with all of the advances we’ve made as women, sexism is still ingrained into the majority of workplaces. Although we’re nearly there with equal pay in terms of gender, women are still being treated slightly different in their jobs.
As former Canadian mayor and feminist Charlotte Whitton once said: “Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.” Traditionally, women must do more than men to be considered equal, and they have to do it with a smile on their face. If a woman is assertive, she’s considered bossy, so they must always be extra careful that they come across as firm, but friendly at the same time.
Blair Cahill, former production designer and art director for feature films and commercials, was in charge of a team of primarily men. In her experience, she has found that “if a woman does a job in the exact same manner as a man, and gets the same results, when it comes time for a promotion the job will normally still go to the man”. Men are born with the reputation of competence, intelligence and strength preceding them, while so many of us have been conditioned to view women as their weak opposites.
While a man can be brash and loud in the workplace and be considered “confident” and “in charge”, a women will be thought of as, well, bitchy. Therefore, working females must strike a delicate balance between competence and politeness to be taken seriously. Cahill has also found that “a woman in the workplace will get better results if she does not condescend or talk down, making sure to explain herself thoroughly. To gain respect in the workplace, a woman should be prepared for the day’s work before arriving, show up a few minutes early and always stay late”. Does it seem fair that one must satisfy a laundry list of minute criteria just so they can rise above the confines of their gender? Hardly.
Are we legally almost there in terms of gender equality in the workplace? Sure. But societally? No way. When a man realizes that a woman’s decision-making in the office is driven by rational thinking and not female emotions run wild, and that a strong woman is not another name for a “bitch”, then we’ll get there.
