Monday, December 14, 2009

fitting in

women_at_work Three years ago, my company was bought out by another company. A reorganization followed, which resulted in my boss (a male) reporting directly to a female about 20 years his junior.

It was no big surprise since my old company was "old school" with very few females in charge, whereas the new company was a relatively new company with many females in charge in various departments.

One month ago, we had a lay-off. My boss was let go. A male and a female co-worker in my department were also let go. A reorganization followed and my new boss is now a female about 20 years my junior. Also they hired back the female co-worker who was let go, but none of the males that were let go.

My profession was a male bastion for ages. Now my department is run by a female and most of my co-workers are female.

When my profession was a male stronghold, the females in my profession tried to fit into the “old boy’s club.” They wore little or no makeup, their hair was in a short style, and they wore tops and slacks – never a skirt or dress. Their only feminine accoutrements were a purse and maybe some stud earrings.

As my profession becomes a female stronghold, maybe I should try to fit in.

5 comments:

  1. Staci-Lana - I would be very curious to get your take on the present aesthetic in your workplace. With female ascendancy and numerical superiority, are the women dressing a little less butchy? With femininity not being a career limiting move, perhaps it is being better embraced. I do hope so.

    Please elaborate in a future post.

    Thanks and good luck with all future rounds of corporate boggle!

    --- Petra

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  2. Woo hoo!

    Quite seriously Staci, this might be a great opportunity for you. Talk about being able to change with the changing character of the organization!

    I am one of those who views change like this as opportunity, and this particular opportunity is one designed perfectly for you.

    All the best,

    Chris

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  3. You probably DO fit in and maybe that's why you're still there! I know it may be anathema for a crossdresser to hear, but being a woman is NOT about the dress (or the bra) -- it's about relating to other women as a woman. (Speaking with the authority / ax to grind of a woman born woman.)

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  4. great post, Staci!! As a closet submissive crossdresser and a middle manager in a large company, I was so pleased to see one of our former female administrative assistants recieve a double promotion as our company reorganized. she also took a position formally occupied by a mid 40's male. I now report to a confident and assertive woman, 15 years my junior. I have seen her transformation first hand, and I look forward to the new roles in our relationship!

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  5. it is so nice to see women taking on the Assertive positions, while we males are being put into the more "Submissive" positions. As an advocate of Gender Role Reversal, I would hope that the women become even more "Butch", while hiring "Femme" men to be their assistants!

    Patti

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