On a trip to a creative arts district in a nearby town, Shari met a talented artist and they instantly connected. During the conversation, he learned that art was a hobby and that his new friend, Jodi, was a licensed therapist who worked exclusively with female clients.
This created a lively interaction. A common thread among the women she works with is that they all have difficult relationships with men, both at work and in their personal lives.
Jodi supports them in sorting out their situations and the feelings they bring up and helps them find their voice to speak out. Her goal is to enable women to actively create their relationships – not from old stereotypes of women and their roles, but from the reservoir of self-respect – and to develop satisfying relationships on a common basis goals and sincere conversations.
Her partner, Shari James, was accompanying her on the trip and overheard the conversation between the two women. James is what we refer to on our blog as a “good guy and ally”. She supports women; he uses his influence to empower and promote women at work and speaks at the right time bias against women
James thought that Shari and Jody’s conversation might have been a bit exaggerated, as the two women became very animated as they shared their personal war stories about dealing with men in the workplace. Shari assured her that it wasn’t, and that every woman has a story of the annoying things men have said to them at work.
She told him that when women get together and the topic comes up, stories often emerge. In fact, she told Hin that she had only met one woman who didn’t have a horror story. Shari and James continued their conversation as they left the Arts District and stopped on their way home.
While waiting in line inside a grocery store to pay for gas and snacks, James joked to Shari, “Are you a member of the woman-hating club?” (The phrase is adapted from a vintage comedy Little Rascals TV show, the boys formed a club of woman haters.)
There were also five women in line; the other was taking care of the cash register. Hearing this explanation, a woman raised her voice: “Yes, I just applied divorce yesterday I’m so tired of the disrespect, role expectations and verbal abuse, I’ve had it. “
Another woman recounted how a male colleague bragged to her that he was making double her salary managing one of the company’s stores while she managed two. When she complained to her boss, she said her colleague deserved more money because she had a family and he didn’t. That, she said, was when she put in her warning.
Another woman said that while working at a large accounting firm, a married man of her age once walked by, then turned around and planted a passionate kiss on her. He was surprised and immediately left the office. He called him and said that he will not go ask for forgiveness and told him to “eat from there.” He demanded it never happen again. He decided to leave the company, but with the feeling that it was his fault.
Unfortunately, instead of reporting inappropriate actions and comments to human resources departments, women often wonder if they did something to cause it.
After reflection, both Shari and James agreed that there should be more professionals like Jodi who empower women to stand up, speak up, and report inappropriate actions and comments to HR. Maybe the day will come when women will come together to talk about things that happen in the workplace and the good stories will outweigh the bad ones.
