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.
Jokes
Over the years I have experienced many instances of sexist comments and behavior, including jokes and harassment.
I report to a woman who has worked at my transportation company for over 25 years. All the other managers are also women of color.
At my former job, I experienced sexual harassment from a senior employee. I was not the only female in the office to be on the receiving end of inappropriate comments, jokes and touches, but I was the only person to report this to Human Resources.
In my last job, I was constantly subject to listening to borderline racist comments/jokes by our manager.
I went to a meeting once and there were pictures of naked women as part of this person's presentation.
As a college graduate from a women's college, I was lucky to always feel like I was more than just my body but when I aced a review faster than my male colleagues, one of them nonchalantly told me that I was "smarter than you look.
I worked in the sports industry and there were a lot of times where I felt like gestures, comments, and suggestions were going way beyond "playful joking.
I came across a racist email that was being circulated by my colleagues which was titled, "10 Things That You Know Someone is Black.
In my line of work when I am interfacing with judges or law enforcement, I feel that I always have to overcompensate in terms of asserting myself because I am an Asian woman, especially in a room with white men or just men.
People at work would call me mysterious and joke about belly-dancing. I would tell them that I started belly-dancing when I was three. It isn't the image you have of belly-dancing here. The belly-dancing for us is the body language we have for the rhythm.
