Today, March 1st, marks the beginning of Women's History Month. With a little research, I learned that The National Women's History Alliance themed this year as "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion".
How timely.
Last month as I waited in the waiting room of a nonprofit organization for a meeting to begin, I picked up a Worcester Business Journal (WBJ). Let's be honest, it is something I never do for a few reasons: (1) for about three years, I barely left the house to engage in meetings, (2) I didn't know people still put you in waiting rooms outside of Zoom, (3) I now instantly think about how many people may have touched anything I touch anywhere I go and the amount of germs I will take with me because of it (thanks, COVID), and (4) my mind is frequently so busy with Meryl's Safe Haven related items and a lack of sleep, I have been in a bit of a fog so reading hasn't been at the top of my list. But as "right time, right place" would have it, that day was different. In the WBJ, there was a co-opt piece by someone I recently met, a supporter of MSH, and would consider to be a voice of reason in the city. The piece talked about (the lack of) women CEOs/EDs especially in Fortune 500 - so many thoughts come to mind, but I won't lose track, yet. It was a factorial, data driven, piece that went straight to the point and, at the expense of sounding like someone who doesn't read at all, I appreciated how short it was. Just sayin', don't take me around the world to bring me down the street.
I think what I appreciated the most about it, outside of its length, is that I have been making some observations since stepping into the full-time role of Meryl's Safe Haven's CEO. Men, of all backgrounds, have stood in front of me and have asked for "the boss". The other day, a gentleman tried to put me in "my place", in fact.
I have to tell this story!
So, he parks the company van on the street and sits for a little while, myself and Marisol are working through two situations with families, one who is coming and one who is going. Eventually, he walks up to the building with his tablet and Marisol asks him who he is looking for. He indicates he has an appointment in one of the units and I ask him if he is sure because we have no record of it. He looks at his tablet and says, "Yes". His conversation with me becomes short quickly. I get the sense, he believes, I am stopping him from doing his job and, if nothing else, putting it nicely, I am a nuisance. I ask for the name of the individual he is looking for. He doesn't respond. He rings the doorbell that doesn't work. I say, "I'm confident you don't have an appointment here but I am happy to help". He then says, "Are you renting that unit?!" I smile and say, "I'm renting all of the units and if you had an appointment, I would know. Now, can I help you?" He says, "Oh" and walks away. So much for that appointment, I guess.
Unfortunately, this is one of many instances in which I have had to insert myself as a person of authority instead of being met with the same respect I am displaying. The need to constantly make reasonable requests and not be acknowledged by individuals (more commonly of a particular gender) until going around them reeks of sexism! As someone who likes to avoid confrontation and is still working on the alignment of my credentials and the space I take up. I have literally asked myself in situations, "What would a (white) man do?" I don't want to ruffle feathers here, and my intentions are not to generalize so hear me out. Privilege is something that is hard to ignore in situations in which you are impacted by the lack of concern and questioning of someone who holds half the credentials as you, and I am not speaking from a place of education, I am speaking from a place of pure experience and, sometimes, actual titles. In my "Who's Who of Worcester", I met and continue to meet many, women CEO/EDs and influential women who do not hold the title, but are a part of the glue to the city as well. Honestly, I am impressed by how many CEO/EDs I have come across in the city of Worcester and (some of) their willingness to be a resource to us, a woman led organization. Not a fact, nor research, just a belief of mine that there are more women CEO/EDs in the social services sector in the city of Worcester than others across the state; I could be wrong.
At a time when women are doing a lot more of everything we were doing before in addition to new things that surfaced with the impact of COVID, as if our plates weren't full enough, I am happy to stand shoulder to shoulder with so many women doing the work that impacts families directly on a daily basis. I am PROUD to say through me Meryl's story continues and HerStory will be associated with something bigger than us all if we just stay the course. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors and recognize without them, there is no HER, and without her there is no Haven.
If no other day and no other month, we ask you to stand in solidarity, not just with or for women leaders but women who have impacted your life along the way.