Sexist Christmas
A friend of mine was getting narky about the sexist assumptions organisations make about Christmas. Thinking about it, they weren't far wrongSpotted a friend of mine on the train this morning. She’s an important player at an international investment bank, and was a bit lacking in terms of the old festive spirit.
‘I hate this time of year,’ she grumbled, as I slurped my gingerbread mochaccino and deliberately trod on the sneakered foot of some youth listening to pappy Christmas tunes too loudly through his headphones. ‘I hate it because it’s so sexist.’
She made a strong case. Apparently executives at the bank mostly had the mind-set that Christmas was a time of relaxation – a time when they’d sit around their plush sofas and tousle junior’s hair while the little women brought in the home-baked mince pies.
There was a prevalent sentiment that the primary business of December was clearing desks of projects in order to enjoy the ‘vacuum’ that is Crimbo.
‘But regardless of how much we believe in equality,’ said my friend,’ the truth is that most Christmas celebrations rely on the female rather than the male. When I go home for Christmas, I’ve probably got more to do that I have at work, and it’s annoying to listen to all this garbage about putting your feet up.’
Two things to bear in mind here, then.
One: organizational culture shouldn’t let sexist dinosaurs get away with positioning Christmas as a time of relaxation for all, because it isn’t.
Two: if you’re one of these dinosaurs, make it your business to shift your scaly backside into the kitchen and do your fair share of the spud bashing.
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