Some of you may remember social norms of the past which were inconvenient and repressive.

The recent heat Jeri complained about, brought up old memories. In my 20s, I worked for the Chicago Convention Bureau. The office wasn’t air conditioned. It was the early 50s. Eventually they did get a/c and the work day improved. Till then, however, huge floor fans had to suffice. I remember keeping a terry cloth towel between my legs to absorb the perspiration while sitting at my desk. I wore skirts in those days.

Making life even more difficult, the dress code for a refined lady was no bare arms, no sleeveless tops, no low neckline, no sandals where one could see your toes. No matter how hot it got, you were to stay covered up.

The Katharine Gibbs School—founded in 1911, became one of the most noteworthy names in the training of young women to be secretaries. I didn’t attend that school, but I knew they emphasized a dress code which included hat and white gloves, in addition to the cover-up norms they taught. Also, of course, there were typing and steno courses, and a primer on demeanor which was to be obedient, cheerful, not self-promoting, always putting your supervisor first and striving in every way to be the perfect lady. I wrote about the term “lady” a while back. It included never interrupting a male conversation, keeping your opinions to yourself, actually not having opinions. And, of course, never anticipate nor wish for an appreciation for anything other than your ability to be a handmaiden and server and/or home maker.

The glass ceiling was concrete. Promotion was never an option. Women who made it into upper echelons were rare and phenomenal and also, apparently, extremely able to manipulate male bias. In those days the term “secretary” was a title that covered major skills. Aside from typing and dictation, a trusted secretary might also manage her boss’ stock portfolio and monitor office procedures. Often she contributed ideas that were adopted by the company, for which her boss got credit.

A young woman who didn’t come from a Gibbs style school could start out as a file clerk, and, if talented, work her way up to secretary. It was an achievement and that is how I did it. Today, anyone who can type 30 words on a computer keyboard can be a secretary despite a marginal grasp of English and writing skills. My own typing skills at 130 wpm rated the term ‘bionic woman’ when I was at the NYT.

At the CCB I had a boss who was skating on being a guy. He dictated into the Dictaphone for me to transcribe. Here’s how that went: “Send this guy a letter telling him we’d like him to bring his convention to Chicago.” So I would research the company, match it to some things Chicago offered, and write the letter. And he would sign it. One day, the office manager, having her suspicions, listened to my Dictaphone tape, made a face, and Mr. Lange didn’t last long after that. But that didn't mean I could be considered for his job (convention salesman). No way.

Anyway, all these memories came floating back over the remark Jeri made that it was an awfully hot summer. I am easily inspired.


Incidentally, this background is what makes me maintain that a great deal of unresolved bias against women in leadership positions helped defeat Hillary Clinton. Just as we thought that racism was over when we elected Barack Obama, our country deluded itself into thinking that fear of women in power is a thing of the past. Men and women, too, faithful to the way “it has always been” had a knee-jerk reaction and avoided voting for a woman for president.
xx, Teal