Every six months or so an organisation called Skillpath tries to get me to sign up for their
Conference for Women
I find it immensely patronising and the brochure’s arrival always leaves me internally seething.
And
– it’s one of the ugliest pieces of design I’ve ever seen. It has a
pastel–drawn image of a woman with her eyes shut holding red flowers
and a handbag – and I haven’t even started on the typography yet!
Anyway – it invites me to:
…spend a day like no other
Developed by women who have discovered the keys to success, presented
by women who will inspire and invigorate you – and designed with your
success in mind.
Ok, so far not so excruciating – but then you read what the sessions on offer are:
- Life lessons from 5 unstoppable women
- How to communicate like a pro
- Are you doing what you love – or even loving what you’re doing?
- Conflict management skills especially for women
- How to say the right thing in tough situations
- A brand–new you… assertiveness skills that lead to success
- Keep you emotions from running the show
- Learning to lead
- Personalise your workspace to free your spirit
- How to keep difficult people from ruining your day
- Presenting yourself as a woman who’s going places
Excuse me?! Sessions number 4, 7 and 9 leave me lost for words.
It gets even worse when you read the session descriptions – I am outraged.
4 Comments
July 28, 2006 at 11:06 am
Grrrrrr
– sounds hideous! I’m delighted they haven’t got me on their list. I
get inundated with conference brochures anyway – but at least their
usually vaguely interesting (and ridiculously expensive!).
July 28, 2006 at 11:22 am
I hate that whole attitude, if anything it’s just holding women back.
July 28, 2006 at 11:45 am
I think its very useful to remind women that they are special and need to be looked after like wittle bunny–wunnies… aw how cute they look in their adorable widdle suit–dresses!
Anyhoo I have developed some additional topics for discussion..
1. If three women agree what another person is thinking, why is it still sensible to check with that person to see if its true?
2. When is a dirty cup a dirty cup (not a sign of a major mental breakdown)
3.
The successful manager treats timekeeping and dress code violations
separate from judgements about professional ability, why can’t you?
4. If you talk down to someone it doesn’t make them childish– you’re the one playing the stroppiness game. aren’t you?
5. The inner witch – how behaving like a child is endearing over 60 and under 20, but scary at 35…
6.
Do Double standards matter and if so, why do professional women insist
on not being seen as sexual or feminine, but insist on being seen as
sexy and feminine
July 28, 2006 at 10:06 pm
What are these “women” of which you speak? Are they new from Microsoft?
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