Long, messy, story super-short: I am looking for a job. Any job at this point. So in my travels between my new abode and the storage locker where my possessions live, I drove past a nursery with a sign saying "NOW HIRING." I was optimistic and stopped in to pick up an application. I walked inside, politely inquired about the sign and asked if I could have an application. The woman I was talking to said, "No."
When I asked her why not, she responded that they were only hiring men. I politely--oh so politely--remarked that the sign did not say "Now Hiring Men Only" and again asked her if I could have an application, please. She again told me that they were only hiring men. (People who know me really well would be so proud about how calm I was at this point. My inner feminist was screaming bloody murder.) I politely asked her if she was aware that this was discrimination based on gender and she laughed at me, turned away, and left me standing there completely stunned.
I walked out to my car, seething inside. What did our ancestors fight for? Why did women march in the streets demanding the right to vote? The right to own property? The right to have control over our own bodies? Why did they burn their bras? They did it all so that little chippy could stand there, smug in her position of employment, and laugh at me for wanting a job application to haul plants around a nursery!!!
I wanted to smack her little face. Does she know how completely over-qualified I am for that position? Does she realize that I was lowering myself to even walk in there and ask for an application simply because I need to pay my car insurance, have gas money, eat, etc?? I AM MAD!!!!!!! This is the second time I have been discriminated against since the middle of January. I lost a full-time position that I had for a year because I'm Mormon, invited people publicly to read The Book of Mormon on my Facebook page, and my patient found that offensive and requested, as is a patient's right, that I no longer work with them. (internal screaming)
I don't WANT to file unemployment! But, unless something changes in the next week, that is where I will be because I am. Forced resignation because I relocated and the transfer from one office to the other was never done after 2 months of being "on-call" waiting for 1, 1!, 8-hour shift a week. I despise people who lie, can't follow through, and treat me like I do not have the right to apply for a job because I have a female reproductive parts and am proud to be a WOMAN!!!!
Oh boy!That sounds messy! If you want someone to look over your resume, I can surely help!
ReplyDeleteWell, you can report the business to whom it may concern. You can look at other positions you are overqualified for to make ends meet, you can go to a temp agency (or to several), you can go into any restaurant and get hired as a busser, waitress, hostess, whatever you want - it's starting the summer season and they'll need people. You can probably do janitorial work at a corporate office, as long as you're lowering your job standards for the time being. You don't have to file unemployment. You could probably work a couple of part time jobs - it sucks, but if you really want to earn for yourself, then there are options still available. And it's only temporary, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm just trying to be helpful. Thinking of the problem in terms of the solution is usually the fastest way for me to not have the problem anymore.
But yeah. She should have given you an explanation. Did you ask her why they were only hiring men?