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.
Marriage
There was a very strong fundamentalist Christian culture at the office. They had unofficial policies that were implemented by the executive who was the head of marketing and sales. He would call people up and say, in no uncertain terms, "It is unacceptable for you to live with your boyfriend or girlfriend.
I ended up being more slowly promoted than a coworker. I was a better performer, brought in more money, supervised people better. But it was the good old boys' club and I was a woman. I really do think that, had I had a husband, I might have been taken more seriously.
