“Woman-There’s No Crying in Business”
And other fun machismo attitudes I learned working in a male-dominant industry
I stood on aisle one talking with my manager about my potential for Store Director training. I worked for a large grocery store chain and it was rumored that I was being fast-tracked.
“You’re likely going to be transferred to Irving in the next few weeks,” he informed me.
“What? I don’t want to go to Irving, that store is a dump!” I said shakily. It was a dump and I hadn’t even considered that I’d be moved.
“Well, if you want your own store, you’ll go where they tell you to go,” he replied.
My eyes started to well up.
“Wait, what’s happening to you? You’re not going to cry, are you?” he barked. His body language changed and he started shifting his weight back and forth. He continued, “Go to the bathroom or wherever you need to go, sort yourself out and come to my office when you’re done,” he grumbled.
I did just that.
When I arrived fresh-faced in his office he bluntly said “I’m going to give it to you straight. This is a male-dominant business, and unfortunately, if you want to succeed at top levels, you can’t show emotions like that. Most men don’t know how to handle it…
