MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

I'm a little more attuned to the scaredy cats too. I surprised a male colleague recently when I suggested young women may be intimidated when commencing work in an industry in which men are over-represented. If she's the only young woman in her workplace it may take her a while to find her voice. He said "that makes me sad because it means workplaces aren't safe enough." I think he hit the nail on the head. Speaking only from personal experience, blokey workplaces are loud, rough, and rude. I was once told by a man who was a duty manager for qantas maintenance that the crew use sexually inappropriate jokes for cheering up the workplace - I won't repeat the actual joke. When I was appalled, he shrugged sheepishly. So he knew it stank but he wasn't going to do anything about it. I think that culture would make any decent person timid, male or female.

My daughter just left her engineering firm because of this. She had been there over 8 years. I think they always saw her as one of the guys until she had Eve. Then they started pushing her out and treating her different. 30 men to 4 women. Two women quit within days of each other. The environment is toxic now. It angers me so much that this is still going on.

My other daughter is a prosecuting attorney. You would blanch at what cops, bailiffs, and judges think is ok to say to her.

This is a soap box for me. I raised two strong women who work in fields that used to be for men only. It's wrong and I get really mad about it. No one should have to put up with that.

 

[Ribh]

My daughter just left her engineering firm because of this. She had been there over 8 years. I think they always saw her as one of the guys until she had Eve. Then they started pushing her out and treating her different. 30 men to 4 women. Two women quit within days of each other. The environment is toxic now. It angers me so much that this is still going on.
My other daughter is a prosecuting attorney. You would blanch too her what cops, bailiffs, and judges think is ok to say to her.

This is a soap box for me. I raised two strong women who work in fields that used to be for men only. It's wrong and I get really mad about it. No one should have to put up with that.

I'm sorry Bob. It really should be all about one's ability to get the job done but the boy's club mentality persists.

 

[BY Bob]

Nope! I'm more thinking breed generalisations, rather than chicken behaviour per se.

Ok good. I was worried.

My girls are really misbehaving. The pecking order is a vicious thing right now.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm sorry Bob. It really should be all about one's ability to get the job done but the boy's club mentality persists.

No need for you to apologize. I had hoped society had matured. I was very wrong.

 

[Ribh]

Ok good. I was worried.

My girls are really misbehaving. The pecking order is a vicious thing right now.

I've got 2 doing some bullying just now. One is a feather puller & she's gone the Campines & one of the BRs, who now have denuded rumps. Not sure what her issue is as they get regular protein treats. She's naughty ~ but my pecking order seems to be in a state of flux again. I really wish Luna would take over. She's calm & fair & big enough to deal with the aggro.

 

[BY Bob]

I've got 2 doing some bullying just now. One is a feather puller & she's gone the Campines & one of the BRs, who now have denuded rumps. Not sure what her issue is as they get regular protein treats. She's naughty ~ but my pecking order seems to be in a state of flux again. I really wish Luna would take over. She's calm & fair & big enough to deal with the aggro.

Isn't it funny how we know who they should put in charge. Right now I think Hattie could calm this all down but I don't think she wants responsibility for all of them.

 

[Ribh]

Isn't it funny how we know who they should put in charge. Right now I think Hattie could calm this all down but I don't think she wants responsibility for all of them.

Well it was Hepzibah[BR] ~ but she seems to have abdicated ~ & she wasn't a good leader. She's a funny hen. One of my first lot & a favourite but she is very much something of a loner. Soda[BR] seems to have taken over & she seems pretty good actually. Likes the responsibility. Does escort duty. Checks on everyone. Is alert & gives the alarm pretty quickly but she has Suyin [edit because I can't even get my own bird's names right! ]Favorelle X] & a complete nut job angling for upward mobility & Lavender [Frizzle]. I'm having a bit of trouble sorting out what's going on as Soda & Hepzibah dominate the roost. Lavender usually can't get up there without help but no~one objects to her presence. Luna is accepted by everyone. She is an excellent hen! No fuss. No bother. The Campines generally manage to get their own way about roosting but are pushed off the food regularly by my bigger birds. Lottie is definitely bottom but in good shape because as her rooster I've made sure of it. Patricia also seems to be fairly laid back ~ on the outer but not picked on & fairly high up the pecking order. Pebbles was the one who kept the bossier birds in line. Without her there's a bit of chaos going on because the flock is now generally made up of less dominating birds.

 

[drumstick diva]

Sounds just like humans in the workplace

 

[MaryJanet]

My daughter just left her engineering firm because of this. She had been there over 8 years. I think they always saw her as one of the guys until she had Eve. Then they started pushing her out and treating her different. 30 men to 4 women. Two women quit within days of each other. The environment is toxic now. It angers me so much that this is still going on.

My other daughter is a prosecuting attorney. You would blanch at what cops, bailiffs, and judges think is ok to say to her.

This is a soap box for me. I raised two strong women who work in fields that used to be for men only. It's wrong and I get really mad about it. No one should have to put up with that.

I have a feeling we've been looking at it wrong. People are studying the women. I think we need to study the men, specifically the school/uni to work transition (eg What happens to the decent young men that they begin to perpetuat patriarchal norms?) and with action research, so that young male participants are shown how to make change.

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm sorry Bob. It really should be all about one's ability to get the job done but the boy's club mentality persists.

It wants fixing. It's too costly.