This is the first time I’ve started a blog. I am an unpublished writer who is writing a memoir about my experiences with gender discrimination on two different continents, with tips I’ve learned from the mistakes I made along the way. It dates from the time I was a young child in England until I became established in a career in the USA. I hope to keep you updated about we.my progress towards my goal of getting it published.
This light-hearted memoir carries a serious message. While following my unusual life story, it addresses techniques to overcome overt and subtle gender bias that I learned in two continents and spanning several decades. My initial reactions of compromise, impulsivity, overacting and expecting others to change their behavior prove counterproductive. Over time, I develop effective strategies such as thinking two or three steps ahead, maintaining optimism, and standing up to challenges. I take responsibility for my past actions and resolve to avoid falling into the same traps later, and I change my own attitudes and behavior.
In the course of the book, I identify character traits that stand in the way of my success, rooted in both genetics and childhood experiences, so that I can change my attitude and behavior to counteract the many obstacles that confront me. These are all techniques that the reader can use, and they are set out clearly.
Everyone yearns for equality. Women who by choice or necessity join the workforce deserve to be treated the same as their male colleagues. Those who choose a more traditional life as a wife and mother want others to understand that it’s a choice, and not a role that has been thrust on them. Women are treated as second-class citizens in almost every country, and discrimination thrives beneath the surface even where it’s illegal.
When women acquire good jobs, bias still affects them. At work, they are often required to interrupt the task at hand to make coffee and perform other tasks for the comfort of their male colleagues, while maintaining the same productivity. Because the myth of male superiority persists, they often feel the need to exceed the men’s accomplishments. Meanwhile, women who choose to work inside the home are derided as “just housewives.” They are expected to pamper their husbands and take care of them after they return from a busy day at work, even though housework and childcare are often more physically and emotionally exhausting.
While reading a light, entertaining book, readers will absorb many techniques to counteract gender bias, from challenging overt discrimination head-on to sniffing out issues that simmer below the surface. They will learn the importance of changing their own attitudes and behavior and the futility of trying to change others. They will learn to think three steps ahead before making a life-changing decision, instead of acting impulsively or overreacting to the situation. They will learn how to maintain optimism during hard times and never give up.
My wide-ranging personal experience, ranging over many decades and two different continents, makes me uniquely qualified to write about this topic. I have experienced everything from overt, scornful discrimination to subtle innuendoes, yet I have achieved a successful, satisfying career. Additionally, I have some academic background in the subject. While at law school later in life, I wrote an article about gender discrimination that my professor encouraged me to submit for publication. The research enhanced my knowledge of the subject. Finally, since developing an interest in this genre, I have read over 40 memoirs on a wide range of topics, which have guided me in developing my own style.
While I have not yet been published, I have previously been represented by two different literary agents. One later represented some of the all-time best authors, but he is deceased, and the other cannot provide the excellent representation I seek.
Readers will enjoy spending time with me. I am passionate about this topic, and such a high level of interest is contagious. Also, I have empathy for women who face this problem, and I relate to them on a deep level because of our common experiences. I believe they will relate to me for the same reasons. Readers who are experiencing discrimination will feel safe, seen, and supported. Victims of racial discrimination will be reassured by my acknowledgement that their difficulties are greater than ours.
Throughout the book, I strive to be honest and authentic, stripping away content that is inconsistent with my true character. I am equally honest about my strengths and weaknesses. My impulsivity and tendency to rebel contrast with a caring and compassionate nature.
This book begins with an incident that changes the course of my entire life, reaches a climax when success appears to be impossible, and ends when I establish myself in a satisfying career, armed with tools to combat future discrimination. It is organized in a manner designed to incorporate both flashbacks and foreshadowing to maintain readers’ interest. Each item in my life story focuses on a specific problem related to gender discrimination, resulting in a coherent message.
After turning the last page of the book, I hope readers will look back on the experience with pleasure, sharing my satisfaction in the outcome. They will be empowered to handle discrimination in their own lives and to achieve their personal goals.