Comments on: Sexist Behavior? You Be the Judge.

By: Jermil

Jermil — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:08:45 +0000

Of course everyone’s outlook on it is different. I would’ve done the same thing but that’s because I feel like life’s too short to worry about whether the whole company feels the same way or whether I should check him and let him know how I feel about what he said. I wouldn’t expect to change his mind about what he said nor would I be concerned with whether he said it to anyone else.

After she read this, she told me that she met other people at the company and they were all decent human beings. Her real reason for not taking it was because it was in Lansing. But the guy’s comment was that extra push to make sure she didn’t take it.

Thank you all for your comments!

By: Narendra

Narendra — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:57:13 +0000

I believe that she was overreacting. Unless she was specifically going to be working with that HR person, he is not necessarily an indicator of how things are run at the company. Case in point, the HR lady at my last job had made several off-color remarks about various things, including being surprised that my girlfriend was half-black, since her nose was ‘so small’. This was of course after I was hired, but the way she spoke and carried herself was not an indicator at all of the corporate culture of the company.

Without knowing much of anything about the author of the original blog post, I’d say she was actually a little spoiled! Some of us could only WISH to be offered an internship, then have the audacity to casually walk away from it almost knowing that another opportunity will pop up.

By: Monica O'Brien

Monica O'Brien — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:01:42 +0000

I don’t know that she did the right thing. I commend her for recognizing that the guy made a sexist joke, but I think it’s silly to give up an entire job because of one person.

Here’s a reply: “Why would that have any effect on my decision?”

This generates conversation, and brings it to the guy’s attention that he just made a sexist joke, and alerts him that she won’t tolerate it.

It sounds like she walked away from the job for other reasons too; in which case, more power to her. But the whole point is learning how to fight it if it bothers you… not walk away from positions. Walking away just hurts yourself and your career.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:04:32 +0000

If I was in her position I would have done the same thing. Even though the statement could have been much worse, the situation may have become progressively worse over time. If she didn’t stand up for herself it would have given the HR guy the “green light” to make further comments and take her involvement with the company for granted. I agree with Amanda, I don’t think they would have taken her seriously. Why work for people that clearly don’t respect you?

By: Jermil

Jermil — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:28:28 +0000

Thanks! The good thing is that she already knew what to do. I think when I was her age, I probably wouldn’t have picked up on it until it was too late.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:03:40 +0000

You gave good advice…the male corporate culture is hard to break into, especially as an underrepresented female. Why put yourself in a position where you know you won’t have a fighting chance going into it? If that comment was a glimpse into how they veiw their female interns, then she could never expect to be taken seriously. Good for her for looking elsewhere!