GENDER INEQUALITY : WORKPLACE

 

The city that never sleeps- New York, is a bustling city. All that glitters is not gold, when there is light, there must be shadow. Gender inequality is always a problem that occurs everywhere even in an enormous city like New York also cannot be avoided.

In a magnificent and exquisite building located in the center of New York. There are a bunch of men wearing suits with typical western pompadour hairstyles with a greasy look and there is an 80s’ smell of cologne in the council hall. They are going to interview a young man and a woman. The lighting is quite dim, and it is barely to get a clear look at the appearance of interviewers. There are also two straight spotlights irradiated beside the two persons. Two persons are seated on high metal stools while the interviewers are seating comfortably on black with gold trim classic luxury armchairs.

After going through simple introduction, The woman, Rena is sitting right there dignified and elegantly. She is very confident and well-spoken. She looks dazzling under the light and did not break a sweat on impressing everyone with her high education background and highly ambitious. Surprisingly, the man was told that he was accepted and go back to receive further information. he was shocked and left the place with an apprehensive feeling.  

After the interviewers told the man to leave, Rena‘s lips twitch noticeably. She was told to stay after the result was told. Rena lost her calm and ask confusedly why she was not selected because clearly, she is way better than the first candidate. “Are you judging me, woman?” said a man seated middle of them with a pair of gold trim spectacles. He is staring into the woman just like staring into the woman’s soul. Rena feels uncomfortable, and she looks away. The man and other interviewers snickered. Face of Rena’s become pale, and she is sweating. “We are giving you another chance, drink all of these.” Another man with a lazy voice spoke and headed to Rena with a wine that look costly and a wine glass. Rena cannot remember how many glasses were refilled. However, she never forgets the sense of touching from the man. It was scorching. The man touched her leg and leaned forward to kiss her. A smell of fear and adrenaline has spread in the hall. A strong urge to escape from the current situation had appeared within Rena. Rena pushed him and excused herself to the restroom. She vomited and she never forget the loathe when he sexually harass her.

She kept this a secret for over many years until now she is still having trauma from the past incident that has never recovered.