6.
“When I first started looking for a job in 1968, newspaper job ads were divided into ‘Men Wanted’ and ‘Women Wanted.’ Employment agencies and corporate human resources departments still divided jobs into men’s and women’s. Even white-collar jobs were divided this way, when there was absolutely no reason to do so. This was already illegal under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but it took several years for the new law to be enacted and implemented to change the practice.”
“Even when I was a fresh graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1979, some recruitment agencies refused to introduce me to accounting jobs, saying companies wouldn’t even interview women for these roles. I eventually got a job as a junior accountant.
On my second day on the job, someone came in and told me they would start training me to fill in for the receptionist during lunch. I told them that wasn’t right because I’m an accountant. Her response was “All the women in the office have to take turns doing this.” I protested to my boss, then her boss, but was told the same thing – do it or you’ll be fired. It was only after I threatened legal action that they relented. A great way to start a new job.
Credit discrimination wasn’t prohibited by law until 1974, but as a single woman, I got a credit card in my name some time before then, probably in 1970.”
—u/Model number
