Founding Editor's Blog
By Cynthia Good

SUBTLE DISCRIMINATION
Posted on July 10, 2008

 

They're everywhere: subtle things that, in a quiet, seemingly innocuous way, undermine women. There are even signs of subtle discrimination on the streets – bright orange signs that blare "Men … Men … Men … Working." Diane Badger of the City of Atlanta's Department of Watershed Management tells me I'm the only one who has complained about these signs locally. "But I think about it," Badger admits. "Every time I pass one of those signs, I think about it." How many of us think about all those little things we experience every day that say "You need not apply"? Or "You're invisible"? Or "You're not part of this"? The owner of a city-hired construction company who buys those "Men Working" signs and has crews post them happens to be a woman! She told me, "I don't worry about that, Cynthia. I worry about bigger things, like making payroll. I worry about the war."

 

I, too, worry about the war. As a business owner, I also worry about payroll. But I also worry about signs – about all the little signs we get every single day that whisper, "You're less than .…" It's the subtle things that are most pernicious, because nobody stands up and says, "Wait. That's wrong."

 

I think about women looking for jobs and the little girls in the backseats of passing cars who see that men work but wonder, What about women? It's a little thing. Or is it? How big are all these little things when added one upon another, upon another? Does this contribute to the pay gap? Does this affect the way we see each other, the way we see ourselves?

 

You betcha.

 

When we look the other way and decide not to worry or even think about it – and not do anything – that's complicity. In tolerating an injustice, we allow it to continue. We make it OK.

 

"So what?" you say. But if the sign said "Christians Working" or "Whites Working," we wouldn't put up with it. It would be the lead story on your evening news. But the fact is – today, in the 21st century – it is still acceptable to exclude women.

 

A little digging revealed that in 1978, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices prohibited the words "Men" and "Flagman" on signs, requiring that they be replaced with "Workers" and "Flagger." In 2003, the manual's list of prohibited words was removed, despite the fact that more than 4 percent of highway workers are now women, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Iowa's Department of Transportation now prohibits all gender-specific signs, but Atlanta needed a shove in the right direction.

 

And it worked! Joe Basista, commissioner of the Atlanta Department of Public Works, agreed "to take immediate measures to phase out any gender-specific signs by crews and contractors performing work for the city," and to "integrate this requirement into the permitting process to ensure compliance by all others working in the city's right of way."

 

Wouldn't it be great if we each gave ourselves the gift of speaking up when something is troubling? If you feel bad about it – whether it's a smart-aleck comment from a co-worker or someone at home, or a sign on the road – your gut is asking you not to ignore it. It's possible to create the life we want, but only when we identify it and then take action to change it. The next time you see a sign that says "You are less than …," what will you do? Will you say something? Or will you quietly go about your business?

 

 

Cynthia Good is the founding editor and CEO of PINK magazine.

 

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COMMENTS

Dear Cynthia-

Belatedly, I am responding positively about your Today Show piece on Men Working signs.  I was surprised at the anger of several of the responses!  Last week, I saw a woman working next to a Men Working sign. The obvious point is that theold signs are inaccurate in many cases!  Since women have been employed in construction for many years, it is surprising that this inaccuracy has persisted, even though alternatives are readily available.    

No, these signs are not the ultimate issue facing women, Atlanta, the US or the world today- nor did you present it as such.  What is a critical issue, however, is the competitive position of American corporations as they face the talent drain with the retirement of baby-boomers.  Women's talent is an essential resource. Reducing the high attrition rate of talented women- approximately one per minute-  is critical to theUS remaining competitive. Large corporations that recognize the necessity of attracting and retaining womennow sponsor women's initiatives aspart of their competitive strategy.   

Eliminating Men Working signs alone will not change the statistics.  However, in this environment, does it make any sense to continue behavior that has no positive value?   I believe this just one symptom of a work culture that has not kept pace with the changes in the makeup of theworkforce- including gender, age and ethnicity.  Cultures are perpetuated in subtle ways and they change slowly.  Changing these signs takes nothing away from men but it does, as Commissioner Joe Basista agreed, belatedly acknowledge today's reality.  

Everyone- men, women and children- stand to gain from decreased tension and increased prosperity.  Why not look at these changes as a Win/Win?  Thanks, Cynthia, for pointing out the obvious!    

Sincerely,

Jackie White

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I just wanted to give my KUDOS to Ms. Good on her radio appearance on the Michael Medved radio show!!!  I have never heard of her or of Pink Magazine and I'm glad that I was able to hear his radio show that night that Ms. Good was speaking.  They were pretty rough on her but I am confident that she can hold her own and she did.  It's not easy being an independent, self-sufficient woman in life.  And to think it's  2008.....not 1938.  Society has come so far but not with this subject.  Unfortunately women are a huge part of the problem.  Sad. 

Thank you and keep up the good work!!!!!!!! 

Debra  
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Dear Cynthia-
   I just watched your interview on Fox News.  YOU ROCK.  I emailed this message to Mr.Hannty:
 
Mr. Hannity-
  I just listened to your interview with Cynthia Good and I want to tell you that she is spot on!  I was a fireFIGHTER, not a fireMAN for 6 years and I had to leave the career that I loved due to gender discrimination.  I stood in front of a class of kindergarteners and asked if a woman could be a firefighter -the entire class answered NO…even though I am standing in uniform in front of them…..HUGE eye opener.  How many female firefighter toys, reading or color books do you see?  I want my daughter to grow up knowing that she can be anything her little heart desires.  It may seem insignificant to you, but the subtleness exists and needs to be addressed.

I think it is awesome that you are speaking out on behalf of women.  Don't let them beat you down….you are sooooo RIGHT!!
             Nicole  

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Should the nomenclature :AIRMAN be removed from military and civilian job or changed to cover the female sex?

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What next??

Manhole covers?

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The question you never ask when you're in your nice vehicle, on the smooth road, safely traversing through the traffic control system, over the sewer lines, the water lines, the electric lines, the gas mains, the telephone lines, the cable lines, next to the sidewalks, past the houses and buildings, over the bridges, passing trucks that deliver the supplies and trucks that haul away the debris...is,

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Ms. Good,

I have to say in a way I do understand where you are coming from with this issue, but, I am hoping that you also understand that there are many many more issues at hand concerning women. If you feel compelled to really help women, if I may, give you some examples, I am going to use myself as the examples...........

I got hurt at work 4 yrs ago, doing a mans job, unloading a truck! The injury is to my neck, where I am no longer able to work ( the trucker pushed a +65lb box down rollers when I turned my back & it struck me almost knocking me to the ground). Since this all happened I was treated like a criminal by worker's comp., they have been ordered by an Industrial Accidents Judge to pay all my medical expenses for 5 yrs, they refuse & won't pay anything, I can't seem to get any help with this. Then I go to Social Security Hearings, 4 total, where I have the Judge there tell me that I could go be a dishwasher or even a waitress, I questioned this & he responds " It would be degrading to ask a man to do the same thing but it is not to ask a woman" or how a comment by the judge " you are a burden on your family", then this same judge says that I am not credible, the reason is because I refuse to have surgery on my neck that could put me in a wheel chair & also I won't become an alcoholic or drug addict to ease the pain, which I have daily.While all of this nonsense is happening, I know of 2 men, one that was working at the time he received a letter from SS after no hearing that he was approved!! Another man who after no hearing, got free health care, food stamps, & cash, who works almost everyday!!!

Oh & I have tried to report all this to State Reps, Congress, State Senator, even the Presidential candidates..........Nothing!!!!!

I know I am not the only women that has had the same thing happen/happening to her, it is extremely frustrating to be treated like this.

So, my question to you is don't you think this would be a good place to help or how about the women out there trying to figure out how they are going to feed, cloth & keep there children warm this winter or hoping that they have a roof over there heads??

When I saw that this is what you were complaining about, I, as I am sure lots of other women were appalled that this is what you felt was so urgent that it had to be dealt with right now! In case you haven't notice the economy is horrible, food, gas, housing prices are totally out of control, I think women have a lot more to be worried about than some signs!

If your true goal is to help women, then I got to tell you, you are going in the wrong direction, you need to turn around and go the right direction.

 

P. Dunbar

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As a woman, I am embarrassed that you waste your time fighting about construction signs.  There are so many more important issues in the country today than construction signs that say "Men Working".  Have you lost your mind?  Do you really think that the money wasted on this is helping Women's Rights?  Get your head out of the sand and deal with issues that will make a difference in our life.  You should have used the money you spent fighting this and donated to a cause that truly would help individuals.

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Ms Good,

A sign that states "Men at Work" is in no way disparaging to women. If it said "Ugly Broads at Work" that would be a different matter. Don't you think professional women like us have enough confidence in our abilities that we don't have to worry about something as silly as the use of the word "men" on a sign? Come off it! Maybe you do, but the rest of us are busy working, furthering our careers. This controversy rates a 10 on the "Oh Brother!" scale.

Jenna, Boulder, Colorado

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Hello, Cynthia.  I saw your interview tonight on Hannity and Combs and have to say that I strongly disagree with you.  I am VERY career-oriented; I have had my own business for the past 10 years.  I am a former psychiatric nurse and have acquired good assertiveness skills.  I now work with training flight attendants, a largely female-dominated profession that has a long history of providing a strong lobby fighting for the rights of inflight professionals for aviation safety and health issues.  I believe strongly in equality for women and agree with most of what the women's movement stands for.  However, I think this PC business is getting really ridiculous when you can't even say "Men at Work" anymore!  How far is all this nonsense going to go?  I think you are knit-picking and making women look ridiculous complaining about something like this.  There are so many more important issues to go after than this, that I just had to laugh out loud.  It is insulting to women to argue about this issue and it is just going way too far.   Lighten up, Cynthia!

Wendy Stafford
President
Flight Attendant Express

 

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You noticed the "Men at Work" signs, good. How about some of your attention to this; TV commercials generally depicting men as dumb, stupid, and the woman next to him looking smart, showing the dumb man how to do it, fix it, etc. And oh yes, 10-15 years ago the commercials depicted women in the same dumb, stupid, less intelligent than the man, and that was equally wrong, just as it is wrong now. You express concerns about the unequal treatment of women in our society and I can only agree that men and women should all be treated on an equal basis, however, it appears that when it comes to the workplace, women in general appear to take-on the same negative behaviors and attitudes that women have been complaining about for too many decades!  Instead of having learned from the men's workplace mistakes, women, in their rush to take their rightful place in the workforce, embraced the men's workplace status quo "mold" and largely forgot about the complaints they had about the "man's workplace" of old and it's business as usual within the higher echelons of the workplace. In many respects, it appears that all that has really happened is that instead of the man beating the "dumb woman", it is now the woman beating the "dumb man" in this country.   I have three grown daughters of which I always attempted to advise them of the importance of equality within the sexes and to not fall prey to the temptations to adopt such negative attitudes while making their way through their own private lives. After all, they have made me the proud grandfather of grandaughters and grandsons, all of which I want to have equal opportunities and treat, and to be treated, fairly by both sexes. So to me it is not simply and only about what is justice for women or men, rather for both. There are always two sides to the street, not just one. Thanks.

Jesse Rojas

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Dear Cynthia,

Why should the signs be rmoved? What wrong with them? You believe that language structures perception, and perception becomes reality. Words matter. When you see this sign, do you expect to see a woman manhandling (excuse me) a 90 lb jack hammer to break out a manhole (sorry again!)? The idea of gender equality taken to this absurd extreme is just plain stupid. I believe that any woman who would be offended by this sign must be deeply insecure. It is an irony of feminism that it has elevated insecurity to an ideology. I will ask you again; what's wrong with men at work? What exactly is wrong with it? If this is the biggest battle Ms. God – excuse me Ms. Good has to wage, it shows just how good things are in the USA for women. Can you imagine what women would say in the rest of the world? Just think how they would shake their heads at the shear stupidity of the editor of a woman's magazine PINK fighting such an absurd battle. She should cast an eye beyond her trivial life to see what real inequality is.

But on a lighter note when it comes to changing the language, I think they (Feminists) make some good points, because as you say, we do think in language and so the quality of our thoughts and ideas could only be as good as the quality of our language. So maybe some of this patriarchal language ought to go away.

• I think spokesman ought to be spokesperson.
• I think chairman ought to be chairperson.
• I think mankind ought to be human kind.
• We should call that thing in the street a personhole cover.
• What would you call a lady's man, a person's person?
• That would make a He-man an It-person.
• Little kids would be afraid of the boogieperson.
• They'd look up in the sky and see the person in the moon.
• Guys would say come back here and fight like a person.
• And we'd all sing "for it's a jolly good person."
• That's the kind of thing you would hear on late-night with David Letterperson.
• The mandates passed by the UN would now be itdates
• I'm having trouble finding a term for menopause…do you have any ideas?

So I hope I've convinced you of the folly of your thinking. Its time to get over it Mrs. Good. There really is a difference between men and women

Steve Moran
Athens GREECE

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Cynthia,

I heard about your venture to change the Georgia road signs from their current reading of "Men at Work." Not sure how to break this to you, but most other states have reworded theirs many years ago to read, "Road Work Ahead." Try driving in some other states and see how many Men at Work signs you'll find. At today's gasoline prices, it would be a very worthy trip.

Phil Toth
Floyd, Virginia

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Your recent escapade with the "men at work" signs is the very reason why so many women today are reluctant to call themselves feminists. I'm sure that wasting money on these signs seems like no big deal to you or the readers of your misguided publication, but not all feminists are middle-aged professionals in suits with money to burn. You trivialize women's rights, and you trivialize the fight that so many women have gone through to give you the voice that you have today by wasting efforts on something that will do nothing but attach even more of a stigma to the word "feminist."  You could easily use your voice to have a positive influence on your community, and work to help young women around you (or even across the world) to overcome the crippling media driven implications of how women are perceived in the media. How do you handle something like this? By putting Candace Bushnell on the front page of your website. Nothing screams female empowerment like the woman who made the vapid irresponsibility of the quarter-life crisis cool for soccer moms. Not that the presence of unattainable female beauty as normalcy for women today is an issue, it's the bright orange signs that give young girls the mental image of what they have to be in order to be relevant and loved in our society today. Not only that, but there are women across the world that are being beaten to death by the men in their families with no way out, and no hope to be seen. There are feminist blogs who are actually giving readers a chance to contribute money to an organization that allows refugee women a chance at getting into Jordan, and out of harm's way in these countries.  Your blog is nothing but a narcissistic look at your wins and losses in the face of modern day women's rights, but I have yet to see a win for anyone but you. I hope you think that you're making a positive and lasting difference in women's rights, because no one else seems to.

http://jezebel.com/5013108/love-has-to-be-calculated-in-iraq-today-they-think-women-are-machines

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Ms. Good,

WOW. I must say that your courageous challenge to the discrimination against women, through the "men at work" signage will no doubt help countless women pursue great and challenging careers in construction and road work. Congratulations.

Obviously the signage question was more important than how minority women are being treated in our country. This past Sunday, July 6, in Jonesboro, an immigrant Muslim father strangled his 25 yr old daughter, Sandeela Kanwal to death in a so-called "honor killing" because she protested being forced by her family to remain married to a man (whom she was forced to marry). No feminists seem to be upset about Muslim women being "corrected" by their male family members (even fatally 'corrected'). I just wanted to be sure that you want all to know that the signage in question represents a more important threat to the freedoms and respect of the women in America than the American women of Muslim heritage being forced into marriages against their will, sold into sexual slavery (not to mention forced pregnancy), their genitals being mangled in a 'religious' ceremony and being treated as second class citizens by their parents and relatives, immigrants of Muslim background.

Perhaps I'm all wet here. Could you point me to the article you're writing on your fellow female who resided (until murdered) in Georgia, Sandeela Kanwal. Perhaps you're leading, (or at least calling for) an investigation into "honor killings" of Muslim women in at least America. Of course the workers signage was so very important in liberating women, but women being forced to marry those they don't even know, and being killed by men (enforcing shariah) for even speaking to the 'wrong' man, I might think would bother you. Perhaps this doesn't rile you as much as the signage, but surely some. - After all, a woman is hardly empowered by being killed. Oh, and I think these Muslim women will have a hard time getting that construction job the signage relates to, whatever the signs say.

Reference:

"Chaudhry Rashid, 56, of Jonesboro, told police he is Muslim and that extra-marital affairs and divorce are against his religion. That's why he killed her, the Clayton County arrest warrant says."

"In court this week Rashid said, 'I have done nothing wrong.' "

"Honor killings are more common in Muslim countries, but have also been reported in Latin America and other regions. A Canadian man of Pakistani origin was accused of killing his daughter last year in relation to her reluctance to wear a Muslim head scarf."

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories
/2008/07/10/clayton_daughter_killed.html?cxntlid=inform_sr

John Ward
Dallas Texas

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The blog about your "Men Working" signs. Are you serious? I think the State of GA has other things to spend its money on rather than some stupid construction sign. I think we should get rid of Chicken of the Sea tuna cans since tuna isn't really chicken.

Chris

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Everyone knows that "Men at Work" includes women.  What a waste of tax payer's time and money to have these signs changed and then think that you deserve a pat on the back for it.  If you are so worried about these signs I think you need to foot the bill instead of having tax payers pay for your idiocracy.  If you want to truly help this planet, devote your time and money to Habitat for Humanity or Goodwill and make some real positive change.  You are an embarassment to me and other women all over the United States. 
 
Erin

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I saw your segment this morning on the Today Show and wanted to applaud your efforts to make sure women are equally recognized in the workplace, including dangerous roads and construction sites, and also big kudos for landing another spot on national tv!

You and Genevieve and the PINK team are doing great work!

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I just saw Cynthia's 5 minutes segment on the Today show, regarding the "Workers" signage change in Atlanta.
 
Finally, this has been addressed and someone did something about it – now if the rest of the country could catch up, most of us would agree it's about time!
 
Good luck with your publication.

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After reading the article about this Ms. Good and her road signs I will be cancelling my subscription to your magazine.  She is an embarassment to the females of  the world!  I hope she learns to keep her mouth shut next time as this could cost your magazine tons of money!  How pathetic she looks complaining about these signs.  Doesn't she have anything better to worry about.  She is the laughing stock of the internet today.

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All the Men Working and similar sexist signs throughout New York state were changed many (15? 20?) years thanks to an enlightened soul who made the suggestion to the powers that be. I don't recall the dollar amount but I was astonished to learn that it cost millions of dollars. Perhaps you could check it out an run an item in PINK.

Could you send me a copy of the issue of PINK that ran the article that was discussed on the Today Show this morning? I'd like to send it on to a friend for her enlightened feminist files.

Kudos to Cynthia Good. Way to go!

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Honestly, don't you think we have bigger fish to fry than what signs posted in work zones read?  I am a woman, and I think it's absurd.  I fully support  women's rights, but this is taking things a bit too far!  No little girl rides by those signs in the car and thinks to herself "Men Working?  Well, golly, I guess I can't work on a road crew when I grow up.."  It's a simple, concise way to express to drivers to SLOW DOWN because people are working ahead.  I don't think anyone infers from those signs that there are absolutely NO women out there working.  This is silly!  And for the city to cave to your demands, which are absolutely groundless, just to shut you up is beyond me.  Why don't YOU pay for the new replacement signs out of your own pocket?  Again, we have much larger concerns in our world today.  I've never lost sleep over, or even thought twice about the fact that some may view those signs as  discriminatory.  Who cares?  Ugh!  It's women like you who cry and complain about total NONSENSE that make us all look like whiny bitches.  YOU are a contributing factor as to why the term "politically correct" makes my stomach turn.

EMILY POOLE

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Congratulations to Cynthia Good for getting the City of Atlanta to take down those ridiculous "Men Working" signs!  I am a white male and I live and work in Decatur, Georgia.  I have seen those signs before while driving in Atlanta and thought "How stupid!  Those are women working, as far as I can tell".  I'm very happy you got this accomplished.  There are many men in the city who thought that was an outdated, discriminatory sign as well.

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Good Morning Cynthia!!

I saw the piece about the "Men at Work" signs this morning on the today show!! Congratulations on accomplishing this (much needed) feat!

On a more personal note, I want to say thank you. It is women like you, who notice these nuances and take action, who are, quite literally, changing the landscape for women in the workforce today.

 As the great song by  Ace of Base goes, "I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes"-- Although I do not face as difficult a fight as many women before me (thanks to women like you), these signs are a sign of change and, hopefully, a willingness to keep changing.

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Girl, you rock! Great interview this moring.

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Good for you, Cynthia.  Those "Men Working" signs have always, always bugged me.  How good that someone finally did something about it.  I'm so proud of you! Emily

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Sure, contribute to making city, county, and state road, bridge and highway budgets a tad larger through your misplaced aggression over a perceived and cruel act of discrimination.  Maybe the signs were created when very few women worked on roads.  Maybe the people who created them didn't see the need to burn money to have them replaced when political correctness started rearing its noble head.  They may have thought "hopefully whiny women won't really get upset over a sign"  I am a man and we typically rule the manual labor jobs.  If you get your stupid little signs replaced then it would be nice if you would start a new attack on the TV networks.  I am sick of seeing feminine hygeine product commercials on my screen.  Don't they know I'm trying to watch a program with no reminders that weak, rediculous women are scheming to undercut anything masculine in the real world.  Go cook something, why don't you and wash my socks when you're done.....Don't tell me your so bitter that you lost or never developed a sense of humor.

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OMG – I just read this on foxnews.com – and absolutely fell in beyond amazement love w/ you and your magazine!!!

This has been an issue of mine since I was in elementary school!  I'm all grown up now - well – 38 – grown up in number, not necessarily in mind….anyway.

I remember getting in arguments w/ my English teachers about how the masculine pronoun was to be used if the gender was unknown about the subject….to which I threw fits – surely this was not gospel!!!  Surely this was just some sick joke that my private school wanted to use to make sure I understood I was a girl and therefore my place was to be nothing but a girl.

I continued my fight for non-gender-specific discussion when the gender was unknown.  In my own personal writing, I would always comply w/ my own rules – rather than "their" rules to use "he, him, men, etc…"

Even when I spoke of something that couldn't possibly have a gender – things others would call a "snowman" – I would call a "snowperson".  They would look at me like I was nuts…I continued my argument that snowpeople  did not have genders – therefore could not solely be men.

When I see those signs "Men at Work" – I lose it…I'm not a road-rager…but, those signs….send me over the edge.  Those in the car w/ me…secretly feel in danger due to my obvious over-interest in grammar – especially gendered grammar.

My friends say "Grammar Whore" – I scream JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!

Hopefully Texas will follow suit….not likely – but, ya never know.  I have seen some fabulous strides w/ this subject – when I truly thought I was the only one who saw this as a true issue - an absolute injustice towards women!!! 

Thank you – thank you – thank you for getting this thought out in the open!

Again – I love you!!!
Diana Langham
Frisco, Texas

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I'm amazed at what I read recently in an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Specifically this article, ''Men At Work' signs to disappear in Atlanta', where complaints by Mrs. Good has caused the city of Atlanta to remove and change warning signs on roadways and construction sites simply because they are not 'PC' enough for her.  Well, her personal vendetta to erradict the city of Atlanta of these 'offensive' signs is causing taxpayers money to change those signs, at a cost of $22 to $144 a sign!  Cynthia, I applaud you for taking money away from other areas that are needed for improvement such as schools, roads or any other government funded program because you have been offended by these 'sexist' and 'biased' sign!  Amazing, how needed money will be diverted from other areas just so Cynthia can sleep better at night.
 
Myself, I am not, nor never have been a resident of Atlanta, or even the state of Georgia (which I love due to family connections to the state), but this I believe to be an area worth taking a stand.  I believe this is without a doubt one of the asinine things that I have ever come across in my 28 years on this Earth.  You know, I bet there isn't one person in this world, minus Mrs. Good, who's driven past one of these signs and said, you know what that's sexist, they need to change it. No, I believe most are thinking to themselves, 'gee, these roads are terrible, they need to fix that pothole', or 'traffic is really backed up today, maybe they should add more lanes to this road', well sorry people of Atlanta, but your tax dollars have been diverted so Mrs. Good can sleep better at night knowing she's rid the world of more 'sexist' propoganda! If you're so dead set on this, YOU should pay for the changes, and if you want the rest of the nation to change it's signs too, then YOU pay the bill.  I for one, pray this 'pressing' issue comes before the city of Tulsa, and our city officials recognize the more pressing needs of it's city/state/country/world. 
 
In closure, I myself am for equality of the sexes and women's rights, but this issue is a little too absurd.  Growing up, my mother (born & raised in Milledgeville, GA) taught me to fight for things that were right and stand up against the wrong, and this is one of those wrongs.
 
Thank you for your time.
 
Austin C. Lancaster

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Not that I have any enduring interest in Pink, but your editor's complaint about the Men at Work (reported by Drudge) sign has certainly convinced me that your publication doesn't reflect MY issues as a woman and professional. 

This sort of publicity-grab, by the way, is the reason I am NOT a feminisit.  I have had a thirty year career in medicine, law and organized medicine, and I don't have time for the kind of posturing nonsense, such as this, that makes people (even women) look like shrill, unfocused, pettifoggers.  There are real issues to deal with in the world and only a nitwit would believe that Men Working signs imply,in this day and age, that women are not also at work. Now, thanks to Cynthia Good, energy and money are being wasted when they could be applied to making a real, postiive difference in the world--even in that particular workplace.  What a shame.  Would you prefer Humankind Laboring?

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Hi Cynthia,
I heard you on the radio last week on my morning drive to work.  As I was changing stations, I recognized your voice and then heard you describe all that Pink! has been doing the last year.  Since I interned at Pink offices last summer, I'm noticing more and more how the issues you address in Pink! are more apparent in my everyday work life.  The same day of your radio spot, Warren Buffett came to visit my company and he actually spent a good portion of his time talking about the importance of promoting women in leadership roles in business.  As one of the only women in my department group (aside from administrative assistants), I enjoy reading your advice on succeeding as a woman in the workplace. There are definitely hurdles to overcome; I recently took up golf lessons and learned baseball for the sole purpose to not be overlooked for anymore golf meetings or business sporting events.  I make sure to read each issue sent to my office, and I think you and the Pink! team are continuing to do an amazing job.  
LT

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Hello Ms. Good, or should I say Mz Good. I have just read on the Atlanta Journal Constitution that you disapprove of the "Men at Work" signs that are popular at just about every construction site around America. While you're busy playing Wonder Woman and bothering the City of Atlanta with your menial requests, why not go dig up Noah Webster and have the spelling of "women" changed to "womyn". Did you use your supernatural female nagging powers to have the signs banned?  Crazy idea...how about doing something beneficial for the HUMAN RACE, rather than searching E-Bay for Rosie the Riveter collector items. In honor of you, I will protest every public bathroom in America and have them take the dresses off of the womyn! I find the dresses to be extremely stereotypical and domesticating. I am SO OFFENDED.
Your pal
-B Cartoon

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I was listening to the radio last week and heard your view on the "MEN AT WORK" signs.  I am embarrassed to say that I haven't even thought about that issue.  Thanks for bringing it to my attention as well as thousands of others.  I have brought this up to anyone and everyone who will listen.  YOU changed my view! I also feel that we (women) make up more than 50% of the population.  We have made great strides in equality but there is so much more for us. Continue to speak for women! Thanks again. MR

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Ms. Good,You really should spend your time and energy on something more worthwhile. If women working out on a site where these signs are displayed are offended by the signs, then they have more deep rooted problems than a dumb sign. Taking these signs down will only help get them killed by vehicles. In reality, the majority of the world does NOT care about the "politically BS" you try to spread.
G. Vilahu

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Tell Cynthia I'll be cancelling my subscription after reading about her issues with the workman signs!  Seriously, I felt ill after reading about it.  The fact that someone would be dwelling on such trival things when we have so much more to worry about right now is so dishearting.   Think my opinion don't matter? Go to AJC.com and read the post associated with the article.  I am just one of many!  Her family must be so embarressed.  Mabe she can give a pep talk to the employees of the City Of Atlanta who could possiably be laid off in order to pay for her stupidity.

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Will someone please tell Ms. Good that intelligent, professional women are mortified by her childish and fiscally irresponsible demands to change roadwork signs?Confident, empowered women do not rely on road signs for their self-worth.  

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Cynthia, Seriously, don't you think there are bigger battles to fight?  I bet you could create an inexhaustible list of these types of things that 'need' to be changed, but why…why would someone bother?  Well, I guess we could ask you why bother and you would have a quick witted response about how these signs are holding women back.  HOGWASH!  A woman can do anything a man can, without proper signage necessary. GET A GRIP LADY! D.B.

...

Folks-

The anecdote below is in comparison to the ridiculousness of Ms. Goods' complaint(s)…people need to get over the PC BS!

"A special meeting about Dallas County traffic tickets turned tense and bizarre this afternoon.

County commissioners were discussing problems with the central collections office that is used to process traffic ticket payments and handle other paperwork normally done by the JP Courts.

Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections "has become a black hole" because paperwork reportedly has become lost in the office.

Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, interrupted him with a loud "Excuse me!" He then corrected his colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole."

That prompted Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy.

Mayfield shot back that it was a figure of speech and a science term."

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/07/dallas-county-meeting-turns-ra.html

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SUCCESS DO'S AND DON'TS

Posted on May 1, 2008

 

I had the chance to meet some smart students during a talk this week at Duke University, and I can report that our future is in the hands of very capable young women. A couple of them, Dana Rosenberg and Victoria Woodbury, started the Duke Association for Business-Oriented Women, the group that invited me to speak.

 

The women students in the group realize what I didn't at that age – that learning about business will benefit a woman regardless of the career she chooses. They also realize, earlier than I did, that they'll need to define themselves or risk being defined by peers, parents and professors.

 

And we talked about how defining success is even more important than achieving it. (You can't reach your goal if you don't know where you're going.) For PINK, "success" has more to do with authenticity and doing what you love than it does with pay, position and power – although all that is nice too! (Aristotle said, "Where your unique talents and the needs of the world intersect, therein lies your vocation.")

 

Once they've figured that out, they'll need to overcome persistent gender barriers – a growing pay gap and declining numbers of women in line for the jobs that lead to the corner office. In that vein, I shared six success Do's and Don'ts, and they asked me to post them online, so here goes.

 

DO ask for what you want. If you don't ask – for a raise, an opportunity, better health, a better relationship – you won't get it. And you'll have no one to blame but yourself. Besides, as we say at PINK, "asking is free."

 

DON'T take "no" for an answer. Most of the very influential women featured on PINK's covers (especially in the early days) declined at first to be interviewed. But we convinced them that PINK was a good bet, and they have all thanked us for the incredible responses they got from the publicity. Another example: Our recent marketing position ad on Career Builder generated 400 résumés in 24 hours. But we offered the job to a young woman who showed up and insisted on working at PINK (even for free) so she could show us her stuff. She was the only one who wouldn't take no for an answer. That's the person I want to hire.

 

DO tap into your network. Each of us has a bigger network than we realize. I'll bet if there's someone you want to connect with, if you don't know her, you probably know someone who does. Too often women don't connect with the network they have when it comes to business.

 

DON'T miss a chance to help another woman. When one of us succeeds, all of us succeed a little bit more. Besides, what goes around comes around.

 

DO focus on relationships. I wish I had been more politically and socially savvy early in my career. Get to know those you work for. It makes work more fun, and if your boss cares about you (and thinks you care about her), you may get promoted sooner.

 

DON'T be afraid to take action. This is what separates those who win from those who don't. It's one thing to have a good idea. It's quite another to actually act on it! (After explaining this, I asked the students if they wanted one of our way-cool PINK T-shirts. (Find them at "Shop PINK" on our website). They all just sat there, very politely raising their hands. Finally, one woman got up out of her chair and took the shirt! I'm betting on her.

 

Cynthia Good is the founding editor of PINK magazine.

 

To comment on this blog, e-mail blog@pinkmagazine.com and enter "Cynthia Good" in the subject line.

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THERE, IT'S OFF MY CHEST

Posted on April 7, 2008

 

During a family dinner this past weekend at a favorite local steakhouse, I asked why I had never seen a woman server. "Because we want to be like an exclusive club," I was told. Apparently the establishment does not hire women! The reasoning is that "men like to come to dinner together without the wife's worrying" they'll be cozying up to women who work there. (A similar argument has been used to keep women from working on Navy submarines.) Besides, the maitre d' added, "the waiters have to walk up and down the stairs, carrying heavy trays." Last time I checked, women didn't have any problem walking while carrying trays.

 

Ironically, our dinner conversation occurred at the same time the world-famous Masters Tournament gets underway in nearby Augusta, Ga. The Augusta National club still doesn't accept women members. And still, despite the discrimination, it retains major corporate sponsors, many of which are blue-chip companies whose primary customers are women. Augusta is a private club, so it's legally allowed to exclude women. Yet, under pressure, amid much criticism of discriminatory admissions practices, the club finally began accepting male African-American members back in 1990 – 18 years ago!

 

The fact remains that today the same private clubs and popular public restaurants that still refuse women would make front-page news if they refused to hire or admit a person because he was Jewish or black or didn't speak English. Such practices that exclude women continue now in the 21st century at many private clubs in Georgia and elsewhere across the United States. If you look for it, you can see signs of exclusion everywhere. I wrote in a recent issue of PINK that a pet peeve of mine is looking outside my office window and seeing the "Men at Work" construction signs. Seems to me it's either not true (women work there also), or if women truly don't work on a site, well, they ought to have the opportunity to do the job.

 

I do love that women and men have distinct differences. The fact that individuals from different cultures and belief systems are different from each other is exciting and adds to any situation (the workplace included). Such distinctions ought to be celebrated. But to exclude someone because she is different – whether it's a job opportunity, or a raise or a chance to play a round of golf – just isn't right.

 

To me, the prevailing attitude that permits these discriminatory practices carries over into all facets of life – business being no exception. We have a ways to go before we live in a world where women are treated based on their character and capabilities rather than their gender.

 

To comment on this blog, e-mail blog@pinkmagazine.com and enter "Cynthia Good" in the subject line.

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WHY I BANNED BLACK . . . AND THEN ATE MY WORDS
Posted on February 7, 2008

 

There were endless management strategies I hoped to implement once I finally got the chance to have a business of my own. I would do all those things former bosses didn't do. And avoid the mistakes they made. I would do it differently. I would give opportunities to those who wanted them. I would let each employee shine in her or his own most radiant way. I would lavish my employees with praise. I would create flexible schedules for those with kids. I would really listen. And I would never let my own fears distort the way I dealt with others.

 

I thought I'd be pretty good at it; after all, at my last job, my staff (consisting of six unpaid interns) stayed with the company longer than 95 percent of the actual employees. Yet – it isn't as easy as it looks.

 

I'm learning to choose my words more carefully. "Never feature a woman wearing a black suit in this magazine," I remember saying. "We don't feature 'men in skirts.' And furthermore," I added, "I really don't want to see any of us wearing black either!" I would eat my words the very next day. On day one of our recent conference series, most of the 750 women attending showed up wearing – you guessed it – black. All of our panelists (some of America's most influential women in business) wore black head to toe. Almost my entire staff wore it too – including me! (To her credit, PINK Art Director Jennifer Tyson did not wear black. In the staff photo we took that day, you'll see she stands out quite well in her white suit. Check out the "Meet the Team".) As for the rest of the women in black, I should point out that not a single outfit resembled a man's stilted attire. These threads had obvious feminine flair; there was lace and style – even a hint of cleavage.

 

It's easy to get bogged down by things like negotiating contracts, dealing with high-demand clients, answering two ringing telephones at once, replying to 320 e-mails a day and so on. Your employees' livelihoods (as well as your own house) are on the line. And the deal is – despite all the pressure, you aren't allowed to be a stressed-out b---h!

 

But the pressure and responsibility come with opportunity. My higher self tells my sometimes stressed-out, scared self, "You are up to the task. You can do this. You can be a better leader, listener, mentor, patient collaborator."

 

Part of my goal with PINK has been not just to create a magazine that empowers readers to have a beautiful career and a beautiful life, but also to create a company that reflects this same mission.

 

We try to live our values: Freedom, Courage and Beauty. To me this means the freedom to have the work and the life you choose, the courage to ask for what you want and need to create it, and the ability to live a beautiful life however you define it.

 

Whether it's managing a $6 billion P&L or being one of many on a nonprofit team working out of a garage, we each have that chance – to relish a life filled with purpose, joy, meaning, passion, love and hope.

 

I'll close with this thought for you: If you were in charge, what do you imagine you would do differently? Or, now that you are in charge, what's the silliest thing you instituted and had to take back – or wish you could take back?

Cynthia Good is CEO and founding editor of PINK magazine.

To comment on this blog, e-mail blog@pinkmagazine.com and enter "Cynthia Good" in the subject line.

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MY FULLY INTEGRATED LIFE
Posted on October 10, 2007

I'm on the airplane reviewing a proposal from a PR group to promote PINK. It's stapled to another page that I must have printed at the same time – my mom's zucchini recipe. And I realize how much I love my fully integrated life. I glance at my 11-year-old son, Julien, sitting in the window seat beside me. He got up with me at dawn to watch me tape a segment on FOX & Friends. "He can come in," the guy at the door had said. "He's her bodyguard." I know how lucky I am to have been able to create this kind of life. It hasn't always been (and won't always be) like this, which makes my eyes well up with gratitude for this moment.

 

I try (and sometimes fail) to keep things in perspective, so when, for example, a major sponsor has a concern about how we interpreted data, or the supporting interviews for our cover profile all fall through, or when an author is upset because we didn't run her book review, or when (due to a printer error) 16 pages have disappeared from inside our last issue (I still don't know how many copies!), or an e-mail overload shuts down my system – I try to remember what's most important to me: my relationship with my husband and our kids and dear friends, and the chance to have this canvas of PINK to show what we all can do to make work and life better for women.

 

Now it's back to editing the stack of copy in my bag and putting out fires on the BlackBerry. I like the challenge of it – to come up with solutions when there doesn't seem to be one. There's always a solution, and it rarely has to be expensive or painful. I've tormented my staff with my belief in this. I tell them, "There is no such thing as 'no.' It may be 'no,' but just for right now."

 

For instance, the fabulous Ariel Capital Management President Mellody Hobson repeatedly turned me down (or at least her handlers did) for a PINK cover two years ago. Again, recently her handlers formally declined. But less than a week later, they phoned us to say, "Yes"! Thrilled with our story and the response to it, Hobson asked us if she could be one of our panelists at our conference lunch series this fall.

 

When one door closes, well, there are lots and lots more doors. A PINK employee once complained that she had tried enough. "I called four times!" she announced. I reminded her that Walt Disney contacted 302 banks before he got what he wanted (a loan to build Disneyland.) I even resorted to fining employees one dollar for saying that four letter word 'can't.' It seems to have worked. Today our team is extremely positive. And now more than ever we seem to have the force to accomplish our goals.

 

I now have tears streaming down my cheeks (I swear it's not that time of the month) . I'm reading Della de Lafuente's wonderful holiday feature for PINK on top career women's most meaningful gifts (you'll have to read this one). Luckily no one on the plane sees me, and there are no questions from my bodyguard, who is watching out the window – mesmerized – as a sparkling New York City gets smaller in the distance.

 

Cynthia Good is CEO and founding editor of PINK magazine.

To comment on this blog, e-mail blog@pinkmagazine.com and enter "Cynthia Good" in the subject line.

COMMENTS

It's so good to find you!

Dear Cynthia:

I enjoyed reading your blog, "My Fully Integrated Life."  We often think that after a person reaches a certain level of success, they no longer have the issue of worklife balance.

Whenever I hear another woman say they enjoy integrating the two it lets me know I'm on the right track.  Although its hard at times, I'm learning more and more each day how to navigate the two.

It's even more challenging with a startup company, husband, four kids and two dogs. Yet, I blessed to have the life I do.

I love the Pink Magazine. I don't have a lot of time and it is the only magazine that I read from cover to cover and pass on to other women.

Please continue to inspire us!

Gina Grant
Founder
Women That Soar

 
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