Sexist remarks from my manager

Helen

I work part time in a private manufacturing company in Burnaby and was a Lead since last semester. A few weeks ago, I was told to straighten up because my boss didn't want a female on the floor that cried everytime she got her feelings hurt. I took this as inappropriate and found it to be sexist. Is it? What recourse do I have? Last week I stepped down from being a Lead and went back to my old position, losing my wage as a Lead. I stepped down on my own accord and said nothing about the remark that was made to me...but it's still bothering me

Morro

You stepped down because of the comment?

Helen

yes

nicole

I don't think that's really sexist at all...if you're letting your emotions get in the way of doing your job, it's more an implication of how you're actually performing...
I've had a lot more done to me before I quit jobs...

Steven

This may sound harsh but in the workplace, no one really wants to deal with emotions especially on every event that feelings get hurt. As well, since you are a "lead" in the workplace, it is important for you to lead by example. If you don't want others crying all the time, then you shouldn't either. I don't think the comment was sexist at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure if it was a male in that position who cries every time, your boss would react the same way.

Morro

I'll agree with Steven, with the caveat that the boss is a dick. I don't think the remark was particularly sexist, but he's still a dick. Anyone who looks at human frailty as a chance to browbeat is a douchenozzle. He just doesn't seem to be a sexist douchenozzle. It would have been within the bounds of niceness to say something, but not to berate you about it. The fact that he specifically said "woman" doesn't change it much, IMO. I think a man crying would have sufferred far greater concequences both directly, and indirectly due to lost respect.

IVT

imo its not sexist. A sexist comment is "DAMN! Check out the nice rack on that!" etc etc

vonnie

It would be a direct jerk comment if he didn't use a hypothetical situation, which I'm assuming, it was.

Insatiable

Judging from what you said, it could be either sexist or non-sexist. He could have said one of two things:

(1) "I don't want a female, who cries every time she has her feelings hurt, to work as the lead"

(2) "I don't want a female who cries every time she has her feelings hurt to work as the lead"

The first sentence sort of assumes all females cry when they have their feelings hurt. This remark would be considered sexist. The second sentence (without the commas) may be saying that a particular female who cries when she has her feelings hurt is not wanted for the position of the lead. It may not necessarily be sexist because there are females who don't cry every time they have their feelings hurt, and perhaps your supervisor would prefer someone like that for the position.

Anyways, to wrap up this analysis, either it was sexist and rude for him to say what he said (sentence 1) or it was rude for him to say what he said, but you perceived it as sexist (sentence 2). Either way, it was not right for him to make such a remark.

siuying

i'm with everyone here.. not a sexist comment in my eyes either..
it's important to keep your emotions intact when you're on any job.. and even more important when you're leading since what you do directly influence your subordinates.. i understand we have our days.. but try to keep your composure till after work.. then you can bawl about it after you get home.. that's professionalism.. plus.. the best thing is you can bitch back at whoever bitches at you about it.. =)

and you shouldn't have stepped down.. =( you should have stuff it into what's-his-face...

flo-ra

If he just left out the female part it wouldn't have been sexist at all. What he actually said sounds a bit sexist to me, though he may not have intended it that way.