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.
Insurance
I had been passed over for more than one promotion by people with less seniority, experience, and knowledge but what really was the last straw was the rampant sexual harassment.
I had felt respected.
Be prepared to work many hours of overtime without being paid. Do not expect to be rewarded or complimented for outstanding work.
I was spotted kissing my then-girlfriend goodbye in the car when she dropped me off for work one morning.
I wasn't cautious enough and was "caught" so I came out. Then some company employees harassed me. I got everything from the men asking, "Can I watch?" to unwanted advances like, "You need a real man.
The other thing I noticed was the male manager would go around to the other men's offices to visit and chat and to build the informal relationships. I said, "What am I? Chopped liver? Why don't you stop at my office like you do you so-and-so's and so-and-so's?" He said, "Oh, I do that." I brought it to his attention, but it didn't change anything.
I've only shared this story one other time. I work with a white woman, who is at the director level and reports to me. We have a congenial relationship and we would go out for drinks. I got tickets for game six of the World Series and I was going to be flown to the game in the company jet; the whole nine yards.
I was at a company where I was only one of two or three women on a team with nine men. The other women wouldn't speak up. When I started to speak up in meetings, there were more jokes made at my expense.
