Member-only story
I Can’t Hear You Over the Sound of Your Ovaries!
Gender disparities in hiring and the perception of aptitude
My best friend growing up was a tomboy. She desperately wanted to cut her hair short, but her mother wouldn’t let her. In compromise, she wore it in a tight braid that swung wildly as she executed her favorite skills on the monkey bars.
She despised wearing dresses, listening to pop music, or anything she deemed feminine. I adored her for these quirks. Yet looking back, I understand her aversion.
From a young age, girls are taught that their entire worth rests in their femininity. We’re encouraged to look pretty, care for others, do chores, and indulge in sweet rituals, while boys get away with… well, literally the opposite. And so we know that masculinity will help us achieve our goals.
The socialization is so strong that we quickly learn to abandon our un-ladylike behaviors. And if we don’t, we develop a strong defense, embracing masculinity rather than asserting that yes, girls are more than sugar and spice. As I discovered by interviewing female workers, our skills are often diminished in favor of our male competitors.
