With all the advances that have been made in equal rights, we’d like to think there’s no such thing as “a man’s world” anymore. But is this really the case when some industries are still clearly dominated by men?
With all the advances that have been made in equal rights, we’d like to think there’s no such thing as “a man’s world” anymore. But is this really the case when some industries are still clearly dominated by men?
The fact of the matter is that women face unique problems when working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. We speak to four women doing great things in the fields of technology, science and F&B who tell us what they’ve had to do to get to the top of their game.
“Women should do what men do. We work just as hard and always give 100 percent.”
Jennifer Lee Head
Chef of Vasco.
Founder of cult cafe Sarnies, Jennifer is one of the few female head chefs in Singapore. She spent a year in Mexico cooking and reviewing restaurants before joining the Vasco team.
“As a woman, I guess we are more emotional in general. My emotions can be very “spur of the moment” and, working in this industry, you have to keep that under wraps to a certain extent. If something [goes wrong in the kitchen], rather than losing it or getting angry, you have to ask yourself why and question your training of your staff.
As I’ve become older I have become much more straightforward. If one of my staff has not done something correctly, I first have to think about who they are as a person and how I approach the mistake so they will be responsive to my criticism.
Women should do what men do. We work just as hard and always give 100 percent. Vasco is my first gig as a head chef. My boss met me when I had a cafe, and offered me this position. He knows how I work and the quality of my work. I never went to culinary school so I guess I may lack certain techniques. In Singapore, it can be all about paper qualifications and where you graduated from.
Men and women are equals in the kitchen. Some chefs might think women are more capable at pastry, but people in general need to keep an open mind and look at the individual and their work ethic regardless of race or gender.
I’m not sure if it’s a female thing or because of the kind of person I am, but I like to send my staff home early on quiet nights so they can be with their loved ones. Maybe it’s a bit of both.”
“Being a woman definitely brings a fresh perspective to building an app for communities.”
Krystal Choo
Founder of WANDER.
One of Singapore’s few bona fide technopreneurs, Krystal has been working incessantly over the last year to launch her app, Wander, full-scale. While it started out as a “dating app for travellers”, it’s just been relaunched as a lifestyle chat platform for people to expand their social circles.
“For some reason, maybe unconscious bias, there is a belief that women cannot build a company as well, or as large, as a man can. This is an industry where only 12 percent of venturefunded businesses are femalefounded/led. So there is a stereotype that a woman is not as technical. You’re seldom taken seriously at the start and asked to justify why your business is as credible as a male-founded one.
I’ve made it a point to look someone straight in the eye and start with factual statements. This helps reduce the friction caused by inherent biases, and it frames my identity as ‘a credible business person’ in those crucial first seconds, instead of ‘a woman’ and whatever suppositions that go along with that.
On many occasions, I have been asked to justify my decision to become an entrepreneur and my ability to undertake the role of founder and CEO. I hear from other female founders that they faced similar challenges, being asked if their father, brother or husband was running the company. The truth is, women don’t need to justify anything. Women already make up 60 percent of the worldwide talent pool, and make 80 percent of consumer-buying decisions. This is today’s reality.
Men can play an important role in empowering women in entrepreneurship. They can create the right working environment where both female and male talent can work together. They can recognise that women show ability and leadership in ways that may not be that obvious, and recognise and encourage their strengths. Male investors can be conscious of their biases and make a concerted effort to focus on pitch content, and evaluate male and female entrepreneurs along the same measurements.
I feel that being a woman definitely brings a fresh perspective to building an app for communities. We have different interests, motivations and communication styles. The best part is that communities are inclusive and empowering by nature, so leading with diversity internally, and having this spirit in Wander, really expands how our digital communities form and interact. If women want to get into tech, they should absolutely go for it!”
“The difficulties [as a woman in science] don’t come with the job,but with people and their pre- conceived notions about you as a woman in the industry.”
Dr Siti Maryam
Marine Biologist, Research Scientist.
A senior marine ecologist at environmental consultancy DHI, Siti received her PhD from NUS, focusing on the resilience of seagrass ecosystems. She has worked with the National Parks Board and co-founded TeamSeagrass, a seagrass monitoring group in Singapore.
“The difficulties [as a woman in science] don’t come with the job, but with people and their preconceived notions about you as a woman in the industry. I think the sciences have made progress in the number of women getting degrees and post-grad degrees, but the higher up the food chain you go, the fewer women you’d find in leadership positions. This makes it hard to find good role models.
I used to just give my opinion on matters, but when it’s not something people want to hear, they shut it down immediately. I’ve found myself subconsciously rephrasing my opinions as questions or suggestions, so as not to seem too domineering or pushy. I also consciously speak in a lower tone, because women’s voices can sometimes get higher when we are excited or passionate about something, and on one or two occasions, that was mistaken for being “emotional”. It’s annoying that as a naturally expressive person, I’ve had to curb that in order to not seem too emotional.
When I entered the workplace, I had to interact with male colleagues from a generation older than mine and that’s when I started noticing some form of bias. I brushed it off because I liked my job too much and it wasn’t hindering my progress. But thinking back, maybe I should have addressed it or called it out.
In a previous position, during a heated discussion with a much older male colleague, he interrupted me and called me ‘young lady’. He clearly felt his wealth of experience negated mine. This was probably the most unpleasant encounter I’ve had that was not just sexist, but ageist. But I’ve also witnessed other female colleagues being the focus of unwanted sexual attention at conferences, during professional social events.
Female colleagues tend to be interrupted more than male colleagues in meetings. If I’m interrupted, I usually interrupt the interrupter by saying “Please let me finish, I am not done yet”. This might happen a few times but it will happen less, the more you call it out. It’s just very tiring to have to constantly do it, but it’s one way to overcome the problem.
On the issue of harassment, I think women have to keep a lookout for one another. If I’m at an industry event and I see a female colleague in a situation where she does not seem comfortable, I will try to casually butt in and turn the topic to something neutral. Just being there as a third presence sometimes helps dissipate the situation.”
“It’s extremely important for gender equality that men speak up against sexism. You don’t have to be female to be a feminist.”
Charmaine Thio
Bartender at 28 HongKong Street.
With a background in literature and fashion PR, switching to bartending was a big leap of faith (and hard work) for Charmaine. But it’s all paid off now that she’s working at one of the world’s top cocktail bars.
“I’ve been fortunate to have never dealt with sexual harassment or discrimination from male colleagues. At the same time, I’m aware that it’s something that should never be taken for granted as it’s a real problem for women in other establishments. In a bid to prove themselves or keep their jobs, these women don’t always speak up and it just creates a cycle of unaddressed abuse.
My difficulties in this job have not come from the men I work with but from guests, men and women alike. Some guests will completely ignore me when I ask to take their order, or say “I’ll just wait for the bartender.”
There’s also the ‘casual sexism’ of comments like ‘I want a manly drink’, ‘Anything whisky and don’t serve it in a girly glass’ or ‘Get her something girly, something you would drink’. It’s pretty impressive how a cocktail umbrella or a flower can be so destabilising to some people’s personal sense of masculinity.
The best way to deal with most of the sexist comments is to call out the person who made them. You don’t need to be confrontational but just do it with a little bit of sass. I once had a guest ask for ‘the most manly Old Fashioned you can make’ – I just told him I didn’t make gendered drinks.
Men can help by never writing off a female colleague based on her gender, how she looks or how she dresses. Make assessments based on their work ethic. Also be aware that sexism is a real thing that affects women on a regular basis. They can help to intervene if it ever gets out of hand and most importantly, don’t contribute to the existing pool of sexism by allowing other men or women to make sexist comments unchecked.
I think it’s extremely important for gender equality that men speak up against sexism. You don’t have to be female to be a feminist. There are male industry professionals like Don Lee, Beverage Director of PDT New York, who actively champion women’s rights in the industry and are extremely vocal about instances of injustice. It’s about looking out for one another to make sure that the bar is a physically and psychologically safe environment for people to work in.”
Photography Ensof Photography.
