I like to say that I started my career on Broadway. In my imagination I played Maria in West Side Story in that 1960s musical hit or Barbara Streisand in Funny Girl. Never mind the fact that I have no singing voice or any substantive acting ability. I unequivocally fantasized reading glowing reviews and waving to adoring fans. I also dreamt of growing a bust that would fit a bra size bigger than double A!! But fantasies are just that: fantasies. They often shape desires and can help us deal with reality – pleasant or otherwise.
The real “Broadway” truth was much less glamorous. In the summer of 1967 I found myself embarking on a new adventure in the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba. While I may have dreamt of gracing the stages of Broadway, my reality was far from the glamour of New York’s Broadway. Instead of “treading the boards”, I found my self working at an insurance company called Monarch Life located on a beautiful Elm lined street called Broadway Avenue. The experience, though not what I had envisioned, turned out to be an eye-opening one. It exposed me to the realities and complexities of gender norms and inequalities.
My excitement at being on salary, a stark contrast to my previous part-time jobs that paid a mere 80 cents an hour was palpable. Gone were the days of ill-fitting uniforms and split shifts, replaced by the thrill of wearing stylish clothes from my own wardrobe or borrowed from close friends. In the swinging sixties, mini skirts reigned supreme and I found myself embracing this new “professional” attire.
As a mail girl, work days were spent unloading bags of mail, sorting them into labeled slots and delivering them throughout the building on a push trolley – all the while in a skimpy mini skirt. It was a task that required well executed precision and skill, especially when retrieving documents from the bottom of the trolley. I created an innovative squatting maneuver that saved me from “over exposure”. In an attempt to make my job a bit more manageable I decided to wear culottes, a then fashionable item that combined the look of a skirt with the practicality of pants.
Unfortunately, this innovative outfit choice led to a workplace conflict as the company deemed culottes as pants which were forbidden for women to wear according to company policy. As a result, I was sent home to change prompting me to question the fairness and equity of the policy and leading me to contemplate the concept of gender equality in the workplace.
In addition, I was asked to participate in a photo shoot for the company newsletter. The photo involved me and three other young women sitting on a diving board in two piece bathing suits. While initially flattered by the request, upon seeing the final product I began to question the purpose of such an image in a professional setting. Just what insurance product were they trying to sell? It served to further fuel my reflection on gender norms and inequalities.
My story of the “mail girl” at Monarch Life on Broadway Avenue in 1967 ,though a far cry from my Broadway dreams ,opened my eyes to the poignant reminder of the challenges faced by women in the workplace during that era. Through encounters with dress code policies and questionable photo shoot requests I began to challenge the status quo and question the fairness and equity of gender expectations. My experience provided me with the genesis of insights into the complexities of gender dynamics and the expectations placed upon women in professional settings. While my dreams of Broadway were put on hold, my journey as a mail girl offered valuable lessons in navigating the world of work as a young woman in the sixties.
It seems evident that since 1967 we have made significant advances in removing workplace gender imbalances. Today’s workplaces are generally more inclusive and diverse, with more opportunities for women to advance their careers. Women do hold important leadership positions and are increasingly represented in traditionally male dominated industries. Despite these advancements, there are still challenges and barriers that women face in the workforce: gender pay gap and lack of representation in top executive roles.
I am hopeful the days of the “mail girl” are bygone and gender issues are for the most left in the dust of decades past.
