A side conversation gone crazy...

I no longer call women at work, "girls." When I use images in my slide presentations I am deliberate about being sure to include women as well as men (in a team project at school one time I was chastised, berated, and verbally beaten down by a female team member when I presented my work in a "dress rehearsal" for having all white male figures on each of my slides). And I treat everyone with respect.

So, in a side conversation several of us were having I finally spoke up and said I didn't think women are being disadvantaged in the office when it comes to promotions, raises, and project assignments. One woman gave me the side-eye, another one said, "Oh please," and the 3rd one told me to stop being so "naïve?" There were 2 other guys in the group, and they just let me twist in the wind of negative comments directed my way. One had a smirk on his face and the other one just said and did nothing. The conversation continued on and I stayed but remained quiet.

Women tend to get super-emotional over being confronted with the reality of a situation that doesn't conform to their view of the world (or office).