It’s International Women’s Day today, which got me to thinking about my own experience of working as a woman in the gifts and stationery industries.
As a graduate going into the workplace in my early twenties I naively believed that equal opportunities existed for all.
However, my own experience of working as a buyer for many years has been one of corporate policy ticking the yes box of equal opportunities but the reality being very different. On a corporate networking course football was given as the example of the best way to engage people in conversation before a meeting (some would argue this is not sexist, I would say it’s a topic that is generally currently more biased towards men). At trade fairs I used to watch with interest as male buyers, would immediately get approached on stands and taken more seriously. I have been told by managers that I need to hire a man for that job, I have been told to be less emotional in the workplace and asked to make the tea and go and buy the milk as I was the only woman in the room. I have seen numerous colleagues return from maternity leave and be refused flexible working on the grounds that it did not meet the needs of the business. I have seen talented women feel they need to dress in their best clothes and shoes to impress male senior managers and get sign off of their ranges.
You see sexism is subtle and for the workplace to change it is individuals who need to change their mind sets and expectations – both men and women. Things are changing as new generations of managers come through, who see women as equals but the industry is still an old boys club to a certain extent, where it is easy to feel excluded as a woman.
Let’s not forget however how far we have come. I recently met two women in their late 50s who have never worked, have no idea how much money their husbands earn and still get a monthly allowance. I count myself lucky to be part of a new generation of independent working women and today that is something to be celebrated.
