50. A NEW STREAK OF DEFIANCE (1989)

STRESS, SUCCESS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN 

The Highs and Lows of A Woman’s Journey in the Corporate World

CARE: This is Chapter 50 of my book Stress, Success and Everything In-Between. These are individual anecdotes but to understand the professional journey in totality, I would recommend reading the book right from Chapter 01 onwards. 

My boss and I were required to do a lot of touring to closely monitor the functioning of the branches in the area of our control. With this objective, my boss planned a visit to Hapur Branch where I and a junior official accompanied him. I was excited and looked forward to the branch visit as a great learning opportunity.

As the Branch Manager lamented the transfer of a star performer employee, who happened to be a woman, my boss scoffed, "But Mister, we gave you a man as her replacement. Even if useless, he must be working double than that woman. Am I wrong?" 

With his sweeping statement, my boss had not only pre-judged that clerk but had cast aspersions on the efficiency of all female workers. This was not just an insult to that woman; it was a dismissal of all women employees. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I could not even look up.  I had read somewhere that a woman has to work doubly hard to prove half as good as her male colleagues. The gender-bias in his comment proved it beyond doubt.

Then, I noticed a sudden spark of defiance in the Branch Manager, who hesitatingly differed from him, "No Sir, that lady was different. She was an excellent worker. She was worth four men. This new guy, her replacement, does barely half his job, and that too with a lot of difficulty." 

A sliver of hope pierced the darkness, and I heaved a sigh of relief. Not every man shared the chauvinistic views of my boss. I sat up straight and breathed easier. 

Discussions over, the Branch Manager arranged tea and biscuits for us. But the boss was fasting that day and asked for some fruits. Soon, a few apples were brought in a plate along with a knife and placed in front of him. He quickly shoved the plate towards me, "Madam, cut them. A woman can handle a knife better than a man. She uses it all the time in the kitchen." He laughed loudly. 

Yeah, really? He thinks a woman's place is only in the kitchen. 

Ignoring his instructions, I impulsively slid the plate of apples to the male officer seated on the next chair. The boss was indignant and looked at me quizzically.  Looking away from him, I replied, "I am sure, whatever a woman can do, a man can also do. Let him cut the apples while I have my tea." 

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the officer trying clumsily to cut the apples but I looked away and took a long sip of tea. The sweetness of tea was in stark contrast to the bitter taste of prejudice. 

One may perceive it as a small act of newfound defiance by a woman slighted, but it was a source of great solace for my hurt self-esteem.

(To be continued...)

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