Notes from the Frontlines: “Big Thick Stupid Glass Ceiling…”
This comment, submitted to Andrew Sullivan, who had questioned whether “dashed” was really the right word for our experience, reminds us that we want this site to be a place for you to share your stories. This one is specific to journalism—but ladies (and gentlemen) please feel free to let em rip! You can comment or send us an email: equalitymyth@gmail.com. Until then, this:
“Dashed?” Yes, dashed. I’m a 37-year-old woman with a journalism degree from a top school and 19 years’ experience in alt weeklies, a very specialized journo subgenre.
A few years ago, after a dozen years as a very-well-respected alt’s senior editor and our editor-in-chief’s right-hand gal, I began applying for editorships as they became available. I applied for a dozen; I didn’t hear back once, not so much as a form letter. Then I won a national award, and immediately was being flown all over the country for interviews. In each case, I was the runner up, and in each case, they went with a (white) man who was the city editor for the local daily. Their leg up on me? They knew the market. My leg up on them? Guys who work for mainstream dailies have an absolutely ZERO understanding of the alt-weekly ethos.
In some cases I was told I didn’t have enough experience (only 15 years at the time, with tons of responsibility and a track record of concrete achievements). In some cases, I was told they didn’t think I’d be tough enough to fire people when warranted. Once, I was told I wasn’t a good enough listener. Twice I was told I exhibited “too much confidence.”
It’s entirely possible I just don’t interview well, and that I come across abrasively or as a know-it-all. But while there was for a while plenty of work for a workhorse like myself, I was absolutely shocked that in the 21st century, there still remained a big thick stupid glass ceiling. It really, really does exist, even in the most progressive of workforces.
