This is a Man’s World

Recently I was talking with a man friend and he caught me by surprise when he said :

“You are advantaged as a woman because it is so much easier for you to make contacts”

Really?  

I do admit being a woman helps me in some situations, generally involving a door opening or a drink offering (ain’t it appeasing?). Also, I have less dinner expenses than other male colleagues because men tend to take charge - this should be interesting for companies : when you think about it, hiring women will lower your expenses..Ok, let’s be serious.

 

Even in our westernized work environment, being a woman is not easy. A woman has to win professionnal respect through a long, long way full of obstacles especially in the early stages of her career. She has to be careful about what she wears, how she talks, how she reacts to sexist comments/jokes without appearing like an uptight feminist. She has to be in control without looking like a Russian soldier. If she’s decent, she has to be smart enough to politely reject powerful jerks without compromising her career. 

In this game, a woman has to master skills a man will never have to. 

 

So please Gentlemen, try to treat a woman with the same esteem you’d give if she was a man – but keep on opening doors.

 

Ladies, any comments?