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No myth:The travails of women in the workforce

4 points by pbhowmic ↗ HN
Anyone who thinks women do not have "challenges" in the American workforce have not been privy to the conversation this guy in the next cubicle is having over the phone. Words like "frigid", "she's getting married and so she is off the market and that made you mad" have been used. As a father of twin girls, I want to have a word with this guy. If I do - the guy is a manager - I probably can't afford to feed my twin girls.

8 comments

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anonbanker
That right there is a perfect example of wage slavery. You worry about taking action because you might lose your job and not be able to feed your kids. Just because you don't see or feel the chains doesn't mean they aren't there.

Pick up a book on contracting and negotiation. I suggest the "Examples & Explanations: Contracts" book by Brian Blum. This will prepare you to enter these conversations from a position of confidence. If you do this without ample preparation, expect to be labelled a poisonous person in the work environment, so make sure to prepare. Do not act rashly.

Someone1234
So was that conversation even about work? It isn't clear from the two quotes if it was romantic/personal in nature or work-related.

For all we know (which isn't a lot, two quotes), the person could be talking about a women they met at the bar or similar.

throwaway420
Nothing indicated in your story proves that there's an issue in the workplace. He could be having a private conversation comforting a friend after a breakup or something to that affect.

Sorry, but you come across as somebody that wants to be a white knight.

orionblastar
I think everyone has challenges at work.

Sexism works both ways, women can be sexist about men too.

I've been called homophobic slurs by women at work because I don't like sports or going out and getting drunk, etc.

Not much you can do about it when a manager does it, and enforces your coworkers to do it too.

dllthomas
"Not much you can do about it when a manager does it, and enforces your coworkers to do it too."

That would seem to be the time when you have the opportunity to do the most about it.

emcarey
if someone is calling you a homophobic slur you shouldn't absolutely report them to hr - no matter what gender they are.
emcarey
Hey so I've had this problem multiple times at work-the answer is to talk to HR about it. Don't talk to him, let HR know it's a problem and then it's up to them to make changes. If this conversation and his demeaning attitude towards women doesn't not continue to change-report again. You can not get in trouble for this at all-that's retaliation and that's illegal
haliphax
Whereas our HR department prefers that you warn the individual first, before you approach HR for a reprimand.