Sexism in the Workplace – A Thing of the Past?
Spoiler alert: sexism in the workplace is alive and well. Sometimes sexism exists in a form that’s blatant and conspicuous. Other times it is subtle and subconscious. No matter what form it’s in, sexism can slyly dictate daily decisions and perspectives.
There can be a misconception that sexist comments are only sexual innuendos or vulgar comments regarding a women’s body. However, sexist comments can be subtle and still have a significant negative impact. Trust me when I say that sexism in the workplace is not a thing of the past.
Who’s the Redhead?
Like many other scientists around the globe, I worked endlessly to contribute to ending the global pandemic. I developed a rapid diagnostic for COVID, and it was finally time to transfer the product that I created to another company for manufacturing.
I traveled to their company to lead the manufacturing transfer. It was my job to supervise their procedures, answer questions, ensure that their techniques were accurate and the method I created at my lab could be replicated in theirs.
While I was leading the team in the lab, I stood next to a colleague from the other company. Let’s call him Chris. Another man approached him and loudly yelled,
Hey man, who’s the redhead?!
I looked up from my lab notebook, and without acknowledging me, he shook Chris’s hand and pounded his knuckles. In front of the group, he said
Wow, Chris, bringing in a new girl today, what a stud!
What. A. Stud.
I was not there because Chris was a ‘stud.’ I was there because I was the lead scientist that developed a COVID-19 diagnostic assay that their company was licensing from mine. Not only did he say this in front of me, but he said it in front of the entire team I was supervising.
He instantly changed their perception of me from being a scientific leader to being the redheaded girl that was lucky enough to be standing next to a stud like Chris.
I was there because I had knowledge and skill that was valuable to my company and his. I was there because I was good at my job, scientific development, and leading a team. That sentence repeated in my head all day while I wished I had a different response. Or any response for that matter.
Our Job is Not the Same
When we put on that lab coat, our job is to do science. But for women and other marginalized groups in this industry, our job requirements do not end there.
It is also our job to work extra hard to earn respect first before our voice is heard. Our job is also to deal with sexist comments and figure out how to respond. Our job is also to lie awake at night and wonder how to move past it and prevent resentment from building up. Imagine what we could achieve if all that wasted energy could be spent on actual science.
We might wear the same lab coat, but our job is not the same.
What Now?
The man that made that statement will likely not remember that encounter. It probably didn’t register in his mind as a pivotal moment. But I will remember it. When I look back on this experience, I will remember that sentence and not the scientific progress made in the lab.
I am disappointed that I did not know how to respond at that moment. The best I can do is to do better next time, whether I am the victim of sexism in the workplace or merely a bystander.
After this experience, I read (actually listened) to Just Work: How to Root out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Build a Kick-ass Culture of Inclusivity by Kim Scott. She provides specific examples for how to respond in situations just like these.
I hope that I never have to experience something like this again, but I know I will respond better next time if I do.
Have you ever experienced sexist comments at work? Feel free to share your stories in the comment section below!
