Woman in professional firm

What has been your experience in this organisation as a person who is different? (e.g., by gender, nationality, etc.)

You get inappropriate things that partners send to clients, disparaging comments about women, “thank you for sending down the girl, we loved her for her mind”. Partner only hires attractive young, competent women. Negative treatment of women is more subtle. A pattern is based on a set of assumptions about women. For example a senior female was not invited to golf day – but all the men were.

What are the kinds of things that have happened that have caused you to feel uncomfortable? (If any).

When clients make inappropriate comments, invitations to events etc. A lot of clients are male. A male client took me out to lunch the other day. I don’t think he would have done that if I was male. Clients kissing you. Clients wanting you to go to their Christmas party. Then there are the assumptions – if you refuse to go to drinks, Partners can get angry because he thinks you are not being responsive to clients.

How have you handled these situations?

In a client situation, can’t do very much, it is up to the partner. It is very difficult to say anything. A client kissed another female staff member at the end of a significant transaction! This is even more inappropriate but I can’t mention this when I have a performance review. I also hold back because of client relationships.

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