Nov

29

Women still fighting for workplace respect

Posted by Dan

November 29, 2008 |

It’s unfortunate that this story still needs to be written. But the Wall Street Journal last week ran a story on how women can “hold their own” in what is still a male-dominated working world.

I’m not a woman. But I’m a bit amazed that a story like this still needs to be written. Maybe I’m naive. But women shouldn’t have to worry about being treated any differently than men in the working world.

My wife tells me, though, that, unfortunately, women always do have to worry about this. She once worked at Montgomery Ward’s before the retailer went out of business. (Quick story: My wife designed children’s apparel for Ward’s. About three months before the company went out of business, Ward’s sent my wife and five other apparel employees to Singapore and Thailand on a long, and costly, business trip. Is it any wonder that the company went out of business?)

My wife told me then that she and the other women with whom she worked had to work three times as hard as the men to earn the same level of respect. I found this hard to believe back then. Unfortunately, it seems to be true today, too.

That’s one of the reasons that I prefer working largely for myself. My wife does, too. There aren’t unfair barriers when you work for yourself. There aren’t corporate politics and gossip and silliness. Sure, there are tons of other aggravations. But at least you know you start on an even playing field.

The Wall Stret Journal story I linked to above has some good advice for women. I just wish it wasn’t necessary.


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