'Squeaky Wheel Gets the Oil' [NaBloPoMo 18]

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 / 6:33 AM

Serious question: how do you handle people in close quarters who are disrespectful? Whenever I hear someone talk down to someone else, it makes me uncomfortable--particularly when it's a man speaking down to a woman using vulgar language. Call me the "PC police," if you want, but I don't think a consistent stream of "fuck you" being muttered at anyone is really all that acceptable.

But I could be wrong.

Of the many discussions I participated in with colleagues and friends last week, I was most struck by the conversations around gender and race in the work environment, and the existence of privilege in some of the most basic workplace negotiations: in promotions, in raises, in generally having your voice heard.

And that's something I don't think is unique for many women in the workplace: do we ask to have our voice heard? Or do we demand? And if we demand, as we see others do so, will we be perceived negatively?

There are no concrete answers to any of these questions, but I still think the conversations are worth having. We need more environments where people can feel comfortable airing their grievances and sharing their experiences, and we need more allies who can help change the status quo.

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1 comments

  1. Aye aye :). And part of it requires that we stand up for each other in those moments when someone tries to belittle or judge us for something they have no reason to question...like how this old lady did for this young woman in the tube recently :-D http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3193708/She-wear-f-likes-Pensioner-came-rescue-scantily-clad-woman-abused-man-Tube-hailed-hero-Facebook.html

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