I think i may have been a little sheltered.  My father, a cuban refugee of the late 50’s raised me on his own with the help of his mom.  Never once was gender an issue.  If I wanted a truck or GI Joe to play with, he provided.  He pushed science and math.  Although he did refuse to purchase things such a hairspray and makeup until I was 17.   No home economics here, it was Auto shop.  No ballet classes, instead it was Kick Boxing.    I once had a conversation with him about it after I got married and settled down.   He told me that he was preparing me for a man’s world.  I had to think like a man, be strong like a man, so that way I could survive in a man’s world.   Oh, I could get married, but I had best prepare for the day he leaves me and I am saddled with children.  (scary, but his prediction proved to be correct.  No children though)

I remember my father voicing his disgust at women in the workforce who dressed up and who were attracted.  He always said they flirted shameless with the upper management.  Any attractive woman in the workplace he was instantly suspicious of.  Of course, unless the woman had a degree and project management experience, he didn’t think too highly of them.  If anyone was interested in him, it was because she wanted his paycheck, not him.  It was like beauty is evil.

Quirky, yes… Yes, my father was.  However, he was brilliant in certain aspects.  Especially when it came to predicting my future.

 Today, in the workplace I see what he was afraid of.  I see my fellow female managers having bad reputations because of their looks.  They date, they go out.  Of course they do it correctly, as in not in their own dept.   But still, you hear the whispers, the rumors, and you see them hitting that glass ceiling.    The sad thing is, its other women who are doing the condemning.   I make sure I always call these women out when they gossip and slander.  I politely ask the "why" and they can never come up with a good reason for their behavior or venom for these other women.  But it is always done in that innocent "i am learning please teach" type tone…. still, they can never justify their nasty behavior.

I honestly feel that men in the workplace are just doing their own thing and are totally hands off on the women’s issues.  They don’t know which end is up… and they are terrified of even addressing it or asking questions. 

I have always been treated very fairly by men in the work force.  I have been treated somewhat unfairly by my fellow women.  And it’s always the same complaint.  I have the brain of an exec…. I just refuse to dress like one.   I think that’s one reason why men in higher management feel very comfortable around me.  I am the ageless tom boy with a visionary brain. Gender issues, dating, mating, relating, and sexual harassment are not even a thought when they see me.    Women see me as the teenager that refuses to grow up because I dress like one and refuse to comment or gossip about the other women. 

Because of my androgynous appearance and my "she did what with whom?  who cares - why are you even talking about it.. can we say law suit for slander?  shut up already and get back to work otherwise you will turn into a liability for this company…" attitude,  I am immune to a lot of pitfalls and challenges women face.