10 Ways To Handle Male Chauvinist Pigs At Your Workplace
Male chauvinism is not a thing of the past and we’ve all had to deal with it at some point or the other. I believe that it is still very prevalent, but as it happens behind closed doors, companies are not slapped with million dollar lawsuits every now and then. Here is the big question, how do you deal with male chauvinists at your workplace? Here are 10 ways you can deal with the situation effectively. As ugly as it sounds, for the sake of this conversation, let’s refer to that male chauvinist pig as just ‘pig’, for the sake of an acronym of course!
1. Ignore him deliberately
Read this carefully ladies – don’t ignore him all the time, but ignore him when he is specifically trying to talk to you or he expects you to be his audience. If there is a situation where you are talking with another female work colleague and out of the blue he steps in and asks you about a project that you’re working on. Ignore him, finish your conversation with your friend and then look to him and give him that look of ‘say again?’ This will send a strong message across – ‘Speak when I’m looking at you, else I am focusing on something else.’
2. Sit with a straight back
As funny as it sounds, sitting with a straight back is oh-so-vital to boost your image at your workplace, especially when there are arrogant pigs lurking around. Sitting in a slouched posture is a sure shot sign of inattentiveness and weakness – all the more reason for the chauvinist to pick on you. Remember, ‘survival of the fittest’ is nature’s law. So look the part, and ward off any predators!
3. Dress appropriately
How typical is it for the pig to pick on our style of clothing? Well, it’s probably because they know that clothing and beauty are our weak spots! Don’t dress shabbily – it is a clear indication of the ‘I don’t care attitude’. On the other hand, don’t dress as if you’re going to party either – you don’t want to be called the office bimbo. Your safest bet is to do your makeup, have a nice and pretty hairdo and wear clothes that are sexy, but not too revealing – just the right mix.
4. Know your work inside out
Those damn pigs will try and put you down on every opportunity. Believe me, the moment you make a mistake or say something inappropriate, they will jump on you like a pack of bloodhounds. The most effective way to deal with this is to know your work inside out and speak only what is right. So next time when that pig makes a mistake, you can go and put him down because you know what is right and what is not. In this case, knowledge is power, definitely!
5. Talk back and talk loud
Have you been in a situation when you’ve felt that you are right but still end up loosing an argument against that pig? Yes, me too – been there, done that. I have learnt over time that the best way to not let this happen again is to talk back in a bold and loud voice. And most importantly, if you think that you must hold your ground, feel free to talk back. Do you know why I am telling this to you? It’s because if you let this happen once, it will keep happening again and again. This will only reaffirm the pig’s belief that their sex is mightier than ours.
