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Vote on Desiree Davidson's Story
Were they afraid we were planning a coup d'etat?
I spent my first summer during Columbia Law School at a firm in Philadelphia described as one of the best places in the city for black lawyers. I believed that if there was any place where I would have an equal chance at opportunities, be treated fairly and succeed, this would be it. There were three black female summer associates out of sixty that year but any time all three of us were in an office talking, one of the partners would knock on the door to see how we were doing. It happened too often to be a coincidence that sometimes we would purposely agree to meet in so-and-so's office to test our theory that we were being monitored. Like clock work, ten minutes after we would get together a partner would stop by.
Having to go to work in drag
- Workplace Unfairness
- Female
- Caucasian
- Lesbian
- Oil/Energy/Natural Resources
- Left & is now Self-Employed
- Personal Care & Service
- Double Life
- Dress Code
- Fitting In
- Workplace Policy
There was a dress code at the ad agency and at this oil company where you had to wear short skirts and heels. That was a published dress code policy! For someone who considers herself a butch lesbian, everyday of my life I felt like I was in drag having to go to work in drag. It was a substantial issue for me. It was like wearing a disguise, wearing a costume. There is a way that it is a strain. It is a stress. Even to have to sit in a certain way is horrendous.