A Right of Passage for Girls and Women

Dear auntie’s girls,

This is a rite of passage for women, so here goes…

I made a suggestion during a work meeting, and it was ignored. Five minutes later, a White male made the same suggestion, and folks were falling all over themselves to support it. I didn’t have to say a word. Within seconds, my boss – a White male – called it out. He was NOT having it.

Afterward, my colleagues looked embarrassed – as they should have been. I thanked my boss, told him that was one of the main reasons he is my favorite boss and said that women are the biggest perpetrators of this mess. I called them (my female colleagues) out, because they heard my suggestion, discounted it and then supported it when a White male said it.

Professional allies, advocates and supporters do not have to share your gender or race. My biggest professional advocate is a White male – and has been for more than a decade. The biggest haters in my professional life are other women. They are jealous, because I have brains, beauty and balls. And that is a quote from my White male mentor.  

When this happens to you – and it will – call it out and expect your allies to do the same. If your so-called allies do not, they are not truly allies.