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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letters: Assuming the boss is the man

Assumptions can backfire

I read Voice correspondent Stefanie Pettit’s Front Porch column (“Sexism in society lingers under cover of humor,” May 25) today with a small half smile on my face.

I started a business in 1980 that originally was going to be just part time. I had been in the banking industry and found a niche that the banks were abandoning. The business grew rapidly, and three years later my husband came to work with me. I was always the president, he was the secretary/treasurer. I had more than my share of men wanting to talk to the man in charge.

One day it did backfire. A local bank that really wanted our account called and made arrangements to take my husband to lunch. They came to pick him up, and I greeted them at the counter. The banker had brought his personal assistant to join them – a very attractive woman. Never once was I asked to join them or included.

They went to lunch, my husband knew what was coming so he ordered a very expensive meal. After they presented their proposal they asked him if they would be able to have our business now. He replied, “I don’t know; I’ll have to ask Susan.She’s the president.”

These people were members of the Chamber of Commerce just as we were. If they had taken the time to look in the directory they would have found the information. They just assumed he was the man in charge. I hope they learned something from it. My husband said the look on their faces when he gave his response was priceless.

Spokane Valley