Last week, I prepared you all for our upcoming conversations to review Lynn Peril’s book Swimming in the Steno Pool. This week we’re diving in with the first chunk of the first chapter. Specifically, we’ll focus on the thoughts on the first couple of pages, as there is MORE than enough to discuss. The first chapter is called, “So You Want to Be a Secretary.”
Full Disclosure:
Please note that the link is an affiliate link, and, at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a commission. When you purchase using an affiliate link, they compensate me, which helps me run this blog.
Swimming in the Steno Pool – Ch. 1, Pt. – Summary
Peril starts out in the 1920s. I love how she sets the reader to grasp the feeling and mindset of the 1920s society. During the 1920s, the feeling for women was:
- As a woman, your career will never exceed that of a secretary
- All women were expected to marry and quit working
- Women couldn’t get a job unless they knew stenography
- I blocked education in any other profession for women
- Professional positions were closed to women
Depressing, huh? Well, it pretty much stays like that until the 1970s. FIFTY freaking years of that!! Ugh.
In fact, the stigma surrounding the idea of women working made it harder for women. Men took women working as an attack on their masculinity. (I still don’t understand why bringing in more money would be a bad thing, but I guess it was a “you had to have been there” moments.) It was a genuine concern at the time, so I have to take it seriously for context’s sake.
Back then, society was far more blatant in their efforts to demean the position’s relevance while recognizing they needed secretaries. While the need and demand was high for stenographers, secretaries, and typists, these positions rarely received the level of professional respect it deserved.
Men (because they were the only ones in the position to hire) often considered women for jobs using arbitrary qualifications like appearances and personalities rather than actual skill and talents. They were looking for women closer to wives (hot, sweet wives) rather than a professional colleague or subordinate. They were looking for someone to cater to them, be charming and give their full attention.
My Reaction – Ch. 1, Pt. 1
To me, there is a sad futility attached to our profession that has existed for a very long time. Everything about 1920s society forced women to only be secretaries, and women should simply be happy they are “allowed” to work. While simultaneously, a working woman’s world never any hope of ever obtaining a sufficient level of success or income.
Our profession seems to me as if the hands of an abuser developed it. I mean, think about it. The patriarchal society doesn’t want women to work, but they need women to work. Demand and necessity “allow” women the ability to work, but society subsequently shuns women for it (set up for abuse).
Furthermore, in order to get an admin job, men didn’t select often candidates for their skills (things the candidate can control). They often decided based on the way a woman looked. Later, when men joked about women being stupid or underperforming, it was the woman’s fault. Their decision for hiring less qualified women in the first place clearly had no impact.
Meanwhile, in a woman’s personal life, she is battling society, low wages, and knowledge that the likelihood of EVER doing anything else is probably out of the question. Schools won’t teach her anything else, and companies blocked off access to jobs because she’s a woman. She’s locked in. Damned if she does and damned is if she doesn’t. If she’s married/dating, the fact that she has a job is a threat to a partner because it risks “emasculating” him.
What. on. Earth???? When has bringing in more money been a negative thing?!
Then, after all that, she knows deep in her heart that no position will ever pay her enough to be “well off.” There’s little to no chance of advancement.
That’s fucking depressing.
Comparison to Modern Times
To me, the fascinating part of reading books like this is to compare the differences from the past to current times.
There have been many advancements from the past as women, fortunately, but not that much for admins/secretaries. The difference is, back then, pretty much they forced all women into administrative roles if they wanted to work outside of a home.
Now, many more industries are more open to women, which means fewer women have to be admins. Also, women can study anything and learn anything which is awesome!
However, for the administrative field, many things are the same. There still isn’t much room for advancement, recognition, or notoriety. In fact, I’d venture to say that being an admin is a negatively looked upon, simply because of our past restrictions.
Few rarely consider the profession a position of respect. How many people do you know who aspire to become an administrative support professional?
Depending on whom you work for, the environment can still be much more similar to the past.
The pay remains typically lower than most other professions, and companies often view admins as expendable.
Lastly, the profession itself is at a standstill. There are so many ways to enhance our profession and areas of expertise. However, even if we proactively achieve these goals, managers and bosses do not perceive them as a reason for professional advancement.
It’s as if knowledge is worth your learning, implementing, and the extra work, but not worth a pay increase or a promotion.
The current perspective almost seems to punish the overachievers and the ambitious, and prefer those do the bare minimum. Simply because the bare minimum means they don’t have a reason to pay more.
Thanks for your time today! If you enjoyed the post, please consider subscribing to the email list!