Some men still have a lot of catching up to do.
And no, I don’t mean career-wise. I mean, some men have a lot of catching up to do with the times. It seems like many people still think it’s the 90’s and women can’t possibly have careers, right?
A woman as a boss? What has the world come to!? One woman wanted to address that on her Twitter. What started as a simple tweet about a story about a mansplainer turned into a full-blown thread.
Following is the Tweet.
When a man on the train expresses surprise that a ‘young lady’ is reading the business section of the Telegraph and the FT. He starts explaining that Davos happens every year. What CBI and ECB stands for. I try to politely move on… he asks: ‘So what is it you do?’ 😬
— Anna Isaac (@Annaisaac) January 26, 2018
Please tell me you told him?
— Nicola Slawson (@Nicola_Slawson) January 26, 2018
But she thankfully did tell him.
Sure did. It’s made so much more difficult but not looking like someone who’d be interested in economics you understand… 🙇♀️ I realise nothing bad meant but yikes
— Anna Isaac (@Annaisaac) January 26, 2018
Gawdddd I do think some people genuinely think it’s still 1950.
— Nicola Slawson (@Nicola_Slawson) January 26, 2018
This story opened up a lot of women of all professions to share their own grievances.
My employer, a FTSE-20 company, held a dinner for its senior managers and their partners. I was seated next to a non-exec (who holds various high profile positions). He greeted me with 'so whose wife are you?' I was head of global communications. And wasn't wearing a ring!
— christina mills (@Spocklette) February 1, 2018
No, indeed.
I’m in my first week with a chip company. Just before my start I was introduced to some of my Michigan co-workers. A guy in his 30’s asked if I would be in HR. Uhh no.
— Stacey Randecker (@drivingmzstacey) January 26, 2018
Damn.
Waiting to speak at a Lib Dem conference fringe meeting as deputy director of a think tank. Asked if I was doing the catering 🤣
— Anna Turley MP (@annaturley) January 26, 2018
Well, at least you told him.
My first day at Amazon. We're in teams discussing its leadership principles. Dude in my team monopolizes the whole conversation, suddenly stares at me & other woman in team and says "well anyway this is only valid for engineers and technical positions".
— Anna SdTC (@annasdtc) January 26, 2018
Me: "well, technically I'm not an engineer but a mathematician, doing a PhD in operations management. I'll be a research scientist intern here."
— Anna SdTC (@annasdtc) January 26, 2018
Is that really so hard to understand?
I told someone that I work in the legal department of a big company. "As a what?" they said. "As a lawyer" I said. "Don’t you have to be a lawyer to work as a lawyer?" "Yes." "……………. oh, you ARE a lawyer??" 😑😑😑
— Ingebjørg (@ingebjorgtb) January 26, 2018
Of course, only there to play ‘wifey.’
Sounds about right. It’s really fun when your husband works in the same field, and people begin conversations concerning topics in your field and/or ask for opinions, they turn to him first. Because obviously you’re just there to play wifey and talk about "womanly" topics.
— Sarah Loy (@Sarilpl) January 26, 2018
He definitely would have learned his lesson after this.
Very small meeting room; mid-winter: Coats start to pile up on table by door. Senior official turns to young woman on his left: 'Do you think you could do something about these coats?' She said that would probably be within her power…as deputy finance minister…
— A Western diplomat (@WesterndipIomat) January 27, 2018
As they should!
At conference hotel… repeatedly asked by military delegates for more water/directions to lift etc. Walked on stage to deliver keynote based on PhD in AI… front 3 rows slid down in their seats trying to hide 😂
— Armstrong Leadership (@ACCLeadership) January 27, 2018
Why not just speak to her?
Political candidate for my area visited my pharmacy and asked to speak to pharmacist, I replied that’s me…'ok, the manager then', that’s me, 'ok, the owner', still me. 'So who was the gentleman I spoke to the other day?' He’s my Saturday boy!
— Catriona (@catrionabrodie) January 27, 2018
Mountains are big!? Who knew?
My female colleague and I were completing our PhDs on Himalayan geomorphology . We applied to the Royal Geographical Society for a grant for our 5th fieldtrip . At the interview one man said "ladies, are you aware they are very big mountains ? Do you have appropriate footwear ?"
— CSWDurhamGeog (@CswGeog) January 27, 2018
Well… That certainly would have been awkward.
At theatre:
Man: "I'm here to speak to the stage manager."
Me, aged 27: "Yes, wh-"
Man: "Well can you take me to him please?"
Me: "I am the stage manager."*awkward silence*
— Gail E Bishop (@gailebishop) January 26, 2018
Because women can’t be professors, right?
I own a gym.
Once met a sales rep at the door and he asked if he could speak to my dad.
— Kristen (@RubyDeuce) January 26, 2018
However, it goes both ways.
Does work both ways. As a househusband at a dinner party with my wife, asked by a vice chancellor what I did, got blanked. Seemed she could not understand my pride on just having set up a village playgroup
— Charles Boney (@charlesboney) January 26, 2018
While I do believe people have made huge strides in this matter, we are still nowhere near to completely eliminating the conservative thinking.
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