This tale of everyday sexism was already outrageous … and then men doubled down on it
It all started when @Ailish_Campbell, the Canadian ambassador to the European Union, shared this story of outrageous everyday sexism on Twitter.
Is it 2022 or 1982? 😵💫
Me: Hello, it’s Ambassador Campbell for [Senior official].
Senior official: Good, I will hold for him.
Me: It is the Ambassador.
Sr official: Yes, please put him on the line.
Me: This IS the Ambassador. #Equality— Ailish Campbell (@Ailish_Campbell) July 19, 2022
And it prompted no end of women to share similar tales.
There is not a female doctor alive who hasn't introduced themselves as the doctor, consulted the patient as the doctor, whilst wearing several badges stating they are the doctor, only to be asked when the doctor is coming.
— LoxleyLozenge (@LoxleyLozenge) July 19, 2022
My sister, who was chief resident and looked like a high school cheerleader used to say: ‘I don’t know let me get one’ and then leave the room for a moment before walking back in…
— Mary Manion ☮️ (@daringdarlingME) July 20, 2022
In 1981 I was the first female engineer hired to work in a group of ~40 male engineers at a big aerospace company. I learned pretty quickly that if I answered the support line phone, I'd be greeted with "Can I talk to one of the engineers?" 🙄
— Dr. Frog (@PhD_Frog) July 19, 2022
Unreal! And you go girl! I’m still mistaken for a paralegal. I’ve been practicing law for 30 years!
— Audrey 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 (@lawdrey13) July 19, 2022
Chief Power Engineer here. Had welder in to fix tubes in boiler. He walks in and strolls around & then asks me where he'd find the chief. I said you're looking at her. Bug eyed, slack jawed says " then I need to speak to someone in charge". Told him to go home, he wasn't needed.
— Heather Wood 🇨🇦 (@HeatherCKWood) July 20, 2022
And then some men – quite a lot of men – pointed out why it wasn’t the man’s fault and it’s fair to say it wasn’t entirely appreciated.
I'am no Englishman, but could it not just be a misunderstanding? Saying a title and 'for', sounds like "holding for". "This is ambassador…" sounds more correct.
— Θωμάς Δαλβαδ 🇩🇰🇪🇺💜 (@davladht) July 19, 2022
Definitely what this situation needs is more men telling women how to present themselves.
— Robin (@thispurplefig86) July 19, 2022
Yea,
This is more "Lost in Translation" than "Handmaids Tale" kinda scenario, I think, unless the [senior official] after the last bit said something like "dear, can you put the man on the line".
I'm all for girlpower/equality, but for non-natives it is an unclear introduction.
— Jyri Sulin (@FinnyII) July 19, 2022
— Duchess Deserted Beach 💙 (@desertedbeach) July 19, 2022
How about: "This is Ambassador Campbell. How are you, Mr. Senior Official?"
— Charles Shapiro (@shapiro_WAC) July 19, 2022
Says a man
— erica marta ball (@shmerica) July 19, 2022
In fairness, it remains a linguistic mystery why the English language switches to third person over the phone. A contributing factor, not a justification, of course.
— Matteo Bonfanti🇪🇺🇪🇪🇮🇹 (@superbonfa) July 19, 2022
The only mystery is why in the 21st Century people assume the 3rd person means exclusively men.
— Monica Coyne (@monicacoyne) July 20, 2022
To conclude …
I find it interesting that the men, instead of calling it out, in the comments, suggest women modify our speech so we don’t get mistaken for secretaries.
— Aerospace Girl (@KimTamm11) July 19, 2022
Last word to @Ailish_Campbell .
Your support is wonderful 🙌 Now keep going. #Equality is built by your actions and your leadership. Who will you act to include? What are your blind spots? At the global level, effective #diplomacy requires far more diversity. Let’s not rest until we have it. #leadership
— Ailish Campbell (@Ailish_Campbell) July 19, 2022
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Source Twitter @Ailish_Campbell
