Thoughts on International Women’s Day
I’ve never thought of myself as a trailblazer for women’s rights. I still don’t. But thinking back over my various careers I realize that my story is probably similar to most of my female peers, and that we are all trailblazers just by virtue of being female.
Right out of college I worked at Grand Canyon National Park, leading hikes and walks. While that is actually trailblazing work (bad pun, sorry), it wasn’t women’s rights trailblazing work. At the the time, however, there were so few women working there that the only housing available was in a trailer with two men, surrounded by other trailers housing more men. I put up with months of female jokes but at the time I didn’t think much of it as that was just how it was. I have no pictures of my trailer-mates because I didn’t like them very much. I do wish I had one though as looking back it is part of my story and I wish I had documented it. Instead I have tons of pictures of beautiful scenery (some things will never change) which I mostly explored on my own as there weren’t many other women around to travel with me.
Grand Canyon 1993, without my male trailer-mates.
Skipping ahead, while deciding where to work post-law school, I knew I was entering a field where women were greatly outnumbered. I landed at Bartlit Beck in Chicago – but before my decision was made I clearly recall receiving a call from a female associate that I had not met during the interview process. The firm had a great reputation but only a handful of women. I sat in the dirty stairwell at school and asked her “where are the women?” Her answer? “That’s a very good question.” Not exactly the answer I was looking for, but she did make a good case as to why I should go there, which I did, and I stayed for 17 years. I started as one of only four women in the Chicago office, was the second woman (by four days) to have a child and deal with maternity leave, then deal with the issues that occur when you come back from maternity leave (i.e. pumping in a dirty airport bathroom because at the time I didn’t feel I could say no to work travel) all in a firm dominated by men. To their credit, the firm was always open to listening to our concerns, and by the time I left it had a vastly improved representation of women and wonderful monthly women’s lunches and other supportive activities.
I have so many stories about being a female attorney – being told a particular judge required women to wear skirts and heels, missing out on client contact because it occurred during a golf game where I’ll just say women weren’t encouraged to attend, being asked to get coffee at a deposition when instead I was the one taking the deposition (that happened way more times than I could possibly count). I wish I had a few photos of these experiences but they would have all looked the same and I’m sure you can picture it - a single woman in a room full of men.
Now that I am older and calling my own shots as a female business owner, I find the landscape so much different. I have met some wonderful women in the same position as myself, owning and running their businesses. I have found that they are extremely supportive and welcoming of other women coming into their space – thank you Anne of Luminta, Nora of Memoir for Me, Kelly Certified Professional Organizer, Megan of Peace and Tidy, and others for providing advice, insight and perspective on running a business. The attitude I have encountered is that by helping each other we all win. So to all of these women, and all women everywhere - happy International Women’s Day, and lets keep trailblazing to make the world a better place for our daughters AND our sons.
“Trailblazing” in 1993, even though I didn’t know it.