Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace

Imagine stepping into a bustling office where ideas fly fast and voices compete for attention. Now, picture a woman trying to share her brilliant insight only to be cut off repeatedly. She’s not imagining things; this is a reality faced by many women in professional settings. This phenomenon, known as the Manterrupter effect, is not just anecdotal; studies reveal that women are interrupted twice as often as men during meetings. The impact is profound — it chips away at confidence and visibility.

But interruptions are just the tip of the iceberg. There’s also the Bropropriator — the colleague who presents your ideas as his own, sometimes without any contribution. This silent theft of credit is backed by research showing women’s ideas are less likely to be attributed to them, especially when working alongside men. It’s a frustrating dynamic where women’s work is overshadowed, and recognition slips away.

These subtle actions are part of a broader pattern of implicit bias and microaggressions. Unlike overt discrimination, this form of sexism is casual, politically correct, and often unintentional, which makes it harder to call out. Yet, it is just as damaging. Women find themselves scrutinized more harshly, judged for tone and temperament, and expected to navigate an impossible balance between assertiveness and likability.

Consider the paradox: men are forgiven for mistakes and aggressive behavior, gaining respect for passion, while women displaying similar traits are branded as ‘shrill’ or ‘too aggressive.’ This double standard undermines women’s authority and hinders career advancement.

Recognizing these behaviors is the first step toward change. It’s about identifying the Manterrupters, Bropropriators, and other subtle forms of sexism that permeate the workplace. It’s about arming yourself with awareness and strategies to reclaim your voice and credit.

For example, when interrupted, one effective tactic is the 'Verbal Chicken' — continuing to speak without yielding the floor, maintaining your momentum until your point is made. Another is 'Womanterruption,' where a colleague steps in to support you by asking the interrupter to let you finish. These moves create a supportive environment and challenge the status quo.

The journey begins with knowing your enemy — the subtle, everyday sexism that can feel isolating but is, in fact, shared by many. Understanding this collective challenge empowers you to fight back together. As we move forward, we’ll explore how to know thyself, recognizing internal barriers that may hold you back, and learning to overcome them with strength and grace.