Living in a Men’s World
Before I begin, I would like to affirm that I am not a feminist, nor a sexist and nothing much more than a female who has worked and built her career in a “men’s world” many years ago.
Did I hate the environment? Had it been unpleasant? Not at all. This piece is all about my experiences, both pleasant and annoying, being where I was almost 40 years ago.
40 years ago, my being in a “men’s world” meant working on construction sites as project manager, assisting to oversee a palm oil plantation as well as automobile assembling and parts manufacturing.
Later, part of my career was in the manufacturing of disposal medical devices.
During the span of my varied career as a businesswoman, I travelled to many countries in different continents and within Malaysia to visit suppliers, distributors and customers. As I was not in any of the glamour businesses like fashion, trends, etc., although the automobile industry could perhaps be considered as one, I was mostly involved with construction, manufacturing and automobile after-sales.
It was during those moments of travelling that I realised what a “men’s world” was. As I have mentioned above, I was not involved with glamorous businesses and as such, I was mostly working in the second-tier towns of the world. These places were where the very basics that were provided in hotels, though clean, were really missing the essentials for a woman.
Take for instance, in a nice and clean hotel room, there was not a hairdryer in the bathroom, not a desk to place my essential beauty aids, and not even a mirror to put my face in order. So there I was packing a hair dryer on every trip and a foldable table mirror, apart from the stacks of product catalogues and samples that I normally needed to take on those business trips.
Another curious and total inconvenience were the bathrobes; they were so immensely huge that it seemed as though women never existed. I couldn’t even ask for one that fit me as they were nonexistent. Not forgetting the slippers, they too were gigantic and putting them on risked the danger of tripping.
The toiletries that were provided was another one of my grouses. There was an abundance of shaving creams, shavers and aftershave lotion but no feminine niceties like body lotion, hair conditioner and the like.
In those days, having breakfast at the hotel before setting off for the business meeting was another event worth a mention. I never failed to realise that I was just about the only female there. Drinking alcohol was and still is a habit I could never master and I dreaded all the pre-dinner drinks.
Were things better in my home country? Only in the sense that if events were too difficult, I could go home. Being on home ground made it a lot easier to reschedule appointments and meetings unbridled by flight schedules. Yet, on home ground, I had sat in board meetings for more than 15 years as the only woman there. The gentlemen were so used to my presence that they treated me as one of the boys. And if there were “gentlemen” jokes to be shared, I heard them all.
For the sake of being able to pay for entertainment bills without handling cash, the privilege that I enjoyed way back then was being a holder of the American Express Gold Card. Trust me, I “never left home without it”.
Things have since changed and on my last trip to Germany to celebrate the inauguration of the office and warehouse premises of a business associate of mine for the past 30 years, the hotel facilities did cater for the needs of women and was extremely comfortable.
Regardless, I have enjoyed my adventures in the “men’s world” and would not have traded it for anything else. I am also happy that it is so much easier now for women to go on business trips and to enjoy full facilities. Most of all, I am also glad that for all that the “older” generation of businesswomen have endured, we are now considered equal in many ways.
At the end of it all, whatever the circumstances are, always remember the privilege of being a woman above anything else. I have said that before as a forum speaker and I still say so now. Things can only become better; after all, we do hold up half the sky.
To conclude, I wish all women out there to conquer the world and to have every success in their endeavours.
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That were the challenges that you’ve faced in those days, Datuk May. I’m sure you’ve learnt more than us. We wouldn’t even realised that inconveniences.
You must have had a highly adaptable mind attuned to these inconveniences back then. Tolerance and patience are the keys to your “survival”. These factors might have contributed to your success as you had demonstrated a high level of change tolerance an individual situation calls for.
Thank you Datuk May for this story of yours.
In the first instance there shouldn’t be any differentiation of male and female. Everyone should be treated the same. It is the perception set by many and hence the differences pointed by Datuk May 40 years ago. Thankfully, the trend has changed and people realised that there should be fairness be it in corporate, family and community. Hopefully the situation in getting better will be in a faster pace.
Nowadays, more female involved in business or entrepreneurship. The rate is growing up rapidly. As mentioned by Datuk May that hotel really no provided any feminine niceties to their female guests. I really hope hotel management should more alert on this issue in order to maintain their female guest for future stay.
Datuk May really voice up many barriers facing by business woman today.
Thank you Datuk May for sharing. (Actually not many people alert on this issue)
Jason
I do think in the developed and dynamic developing world, women in many cases surpass men in all manners of industry, entrepreneurship and so forth. Still this is a good insight to the challenges women face with regards to break that glass ceiling.
Thank you Datuk May.
Climbing the corporate ladder was never easy and still not easy for the so-called fairer sex. It’s an ugly world out there.
Datuk May, you have come out of the whole experience with such a balanced view that I really admire your fortitude. Thank you for making us see balance and take things as they are and not project too much into them.
Thank you Datuk May for sharing this article. Talking about living in a mens’s world. I used to work in the computer shop whereby my colleague didn’t treat me like a female 😛 They instead treated like their buddy / brother. As for hotels, I have not come across any hotel that did not provide toiletries for ladies. The only thing that some hotels do not provide is hair dryer which is quite inconvenient for ladies with long hair. In the world today, I think women gets respect from the men as there are many women out there who are in top position of the corporate ladder.
With folded palms,
Vivian
This is a cool write up,Datuk May. You are a good role model and I truly idolize you as a very capable and dynamic woman. I myself love to work in the men’s world because it would be more interesting and challenging as I’m the outgoing type and able to click with male friends. And also prefers to avoid jealousy and other negative issues with women. Thank you Datuk May for this interesting article and hope to read more from you again.
There are so many successful women who have made a true difference in our country.Women all over the world have made huge steps forward in the feminist movement; however, there is still so much that needs to be done. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter , it’s whats you accomplish.
Thank you Datuk May for sharing your experience and adventures in the men’s world ,speaking from your heart. Being a woman trying to climb to the top of a world that belongs to men is not easy afterall but with determination and hard work you did it.
Your story will inspired many of those women out there.
Thank you, Datuk May, for sharing personal experiences with us. I can only imagine the obnoxious journey even though Datuk May put the experience in a light and positive manner. This is an interesting topic because most women working the commercial world will be able to relate and likely have their own stories about women in a men’s world.
To begin with, there’s a huge gap when it comes to remuneration ceiling. And the women’s voice will always be outnumbered in the boardroom or senior management meetings. Therefore, women-on-top are always an inspiration to me, especially in these parts of the world. Women who put in the effort and climb to the top have my utmost respect and will be someone I look up to.