A woman can be successful. A woman is successful. A woman is never less and a woman should never be accepted as less. A woman is powerful and a woman is a leader.
This is what I reminded myself each morning as the first day at my new job approached.
I was gifted and accomplished in sports writing and dreamed of becoming a sports journalist. My dream was approaching only days away at Sports Media US with my first-ever job as a sports journalist in the busy city of Chicago. The first day at my job came and went, and while I was getting adjusted to my job I realized something. I didn’t see many women in the office or any women working as sports journalists in particular and that startled me. I didn’t know whether to feel grateful or a little scared, wondering why many women weren’t working alongside me in the office. Nonetheless, I started working on new tasks and writing new stories she enjoyed and spent lots of her time perfecting them even if it meant staying late.
I inherited my great work ethic from my mother who was a single mom for me and my four brothers. I remember when momma worked three jobs to keep our family secure, happy, and fed and I am forever thankful. I was just happy to receive a loving mother, family, and a roof over my head growing up and my mother was the best example to us all. I don’t know anyone else more excited and supportive of my accomplishments today than my mother.
In the last few months, I have worked tirelessly to prepare, train, and be the best writer I can be for this company. Thankfully I have been assigned my first big story that I am co-writing with my coworker Rick. Rick and I get along well and we are covering a Lakers game against the Miami Heat in the rise of basketball season. The game was incredibly close and while we were enjoying our time there I noticed between the two of us that I was the only one taking notes and setting up interviews. At the end of the night, Rick conducted one interview and took a look at my notes.
The deadline for the story was approaching and Rick and I agreed on what we were covering. I decided to take on a little bit more for the story while also assisting Rick with his work who claims he was “too into the game to focus on taking quotes for the story.” As a woman, I rolled my eyes but let it slide. Finally, our story was put together and completed and I was quite proud of my work. Two days later I was called into my boss’s office to discuss the story.
“Sarah I am very impressed with the work you and Rick put together for this story on the game. Seeing a woman’s perspective in writing with sports is interesting and a good change around here. Rick said you did an excellent job doing your part as well.”
My cheeks started to feel a little warm from my excitement and gratitude.
“I do want to let you know that while you and Rick co-wrote this story, Rick will be getting paid a little more than what you will receive for this story. You did an excellent job but Rick has been here six months longer than you and basketball is a man’s sport we usually like a masculine perspective on the stories but excellent job!”
My heart sank. I couldn’t believe what my ears just heard. All I could do was freeze and then awkwardly see my way out of the office without a word. My whole life this is all I have worked for and this is what I get for being a woman in the workplace? My first big story and I got a pay cut compared to my colleague because I am too feminine for the sport. For the rest of the day, all I could do was think about how disappointed I was. In myself, in this company, in this job, and why I stood there and even let that happen.
I received honors in high school, college, and graduate school and I could not believe this was happening to me. I worked so hard for this dream job that only now wasn’t feeling like a dream job anymore. The only thing I could think to do was call my mom.
“Honey, I am so proud of you and the work you have put into this job so far but you have to do something. Stand up for yourself, it’s how I raised you and it’s what you deserve.”
“You’re right Mom, thank you,” I said.
A few days later, I took it upon myself to speak to HR and ask if cutting the woman journalist’s pay was a normal thing within the company of Sports Media US. All I got was a “yes this happens with most of our female employees and you just have to deal with it.”
The thing is, I couldn’t deal with it. I sat on it for one more day and finally took up the courage to contact the CEO of the company who was a woman to my disbelief. Shockingly, the next day I had a meeting set with the CEO of the company Barbara Malone.
When I told her my story I expected to hear the same thing HR told me and was already preparing for disappointment. “Sarah, I am so incredibly sorry this has happened to you within our company and I won’t let this stand. This is the whole reason why I am here today as a CEO and why women should lead and teach others what gender equality is. We do not teach this in our company and have never approved of it. I will take care of this on your behalf and I am so sorry.”
That afternoon was one of the most empowering days of my life, I was supported in the unfair treatment I received. I never felt so relieved leaving the office that afternoon.
The next day I came into a buzzing office and the sight of my boss moving boxes in his office. Turns out my boss was fired for the mistreatment I received on the story and so were two other long-time employees because they were also lowering pay with their female employees as well. It was like a power move with the men in the office. As I learned more, apparently I was the first female employee to find the courage to reach out to the CEO of the company concerning this issue that had been going on for years.
That day was a fresh start for many women in the office and I finally felt good about things.
I was treated as a hardworking professional and I was supported despite mistreatment in this world. Cruel things happen, but I am glad I didn’t just sit and let it happen all because I was a woman. A woman’s mind is a lot stronger and a lot wiser than that.
- Empowering Working Women – by Sydney Brown - April 6, 2024