On Thursday, October 20th, businesswoman Ellen Fitzgibbon, and Hewitt’s faculty member Elizabeth Jimenez talked to the students in Ms. Emerson’s Global Feminism class about sexism in the workplace. Before hearing from Jimenez and Fitzgibbon, the student explored the three types of sexism: internalized sexism, interpersonal sexism, and institutional sexism.
Fitzgibbon works as Deputy Compliance Officer at a New York City Investment Fund. She describes the finance field as a field mostly dominated by men, making sexism prevalent in her daily working life. There have been many times where Fitzgibbon’s skills and position are underestimated, just because she is a woman. Instead of being praised for her work and being treated equally to her counterparts, she is faced with remarks such as “ Can you please get us coffee” and “Are you the secretary?”.
Source: Hewitt School Twitter
Throughout her experiences with sexism in her workplace, Fitzgibbon has realized that “The biggest thing you can do for yourself as a woman in the working world is to be your own advocate; to realize that you are as qualified if not more qualified than any other employee”. She hopes that all women in the working field stand up for themselves and continue to try, even after they continuously fail.
Ms. Jimenez explained the connection of intersectionality with the issue of sexism– something many students did not know about. Before working at Hewitt, she worked at Booz Allen Hamilton, a government consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. She has not only found herself being discriminated on the basis of gender, but also due to her race and age. Jimenez highlighted how as a woman of color she lacks some of the privileges white women fail to notice they have. Jimenez explained the fight for equality must be inclusive to all women.
Sophie J. ‘19 says, “The discussion was very important and relevant to what women have to put up with these days.” Having guest speakers Fitzgibbon and Jimenez has allowed the students of Global Feminism to examine and learn about a problem that is connected to their lives. They’re now openly wondering about future and thinking of ways to combat sexism.