To be disappointed about this?

[imamearcat]

We had to do a bit of a fluffy exercise at work.

To pick a celeb/character/person who you admire who has the qualities that are aspirational to our team.

I did a bit of a fun one with my daughter on Elsa from frozen. All the others were men. Mostly ones in suits.

First time ever I've really felt sexism. AIBU?

I'm a bit confused.

If this was a work exercise, where does your daughter come into it?

@WorraLiberty, I think I've said? Just thought it would add a bit of fun.

But managed a tenuous link to team values.. thank you..

It doesn’t mean they only admire men. They just had to pick one for the sake of a “fluffy exercise”.

As already said, the most sexist part is that you said “men never admire women do they? Never.” Plenty of men admire plenty of women. Don’t be sexist now.

So just a statistical fluke they all picked men?

Possible .... but improbable.

Sorry I asked

You’ve had some very weird responses OP. I absolutely understand what you are saying and YANBU.

To be honest, you haven't exactly done much yourself for women.

You could've picked from a multitude of strong, clever women who might have the qualities that are aspirational to your team.

And you picked a blonde haired, blue-eyed Barbie doll lookalike from a children's movie.

Opportunity hugely missed there.

Yes, I bet the people in my office would have picked similar.

@WorraLiberty I'm sure women with blue eyes and blonde hair are so much less of a woman.

I don't think the OP was anticipating that everyone else would pick men when she made her choice.
I work in a pretty male dominated field so it would have occurred to me. (Fortunately I can think of plenty of very inspirational women.)

God everyone is being a dick on here today.

Were they all white men, too?

So reductive. The only female a pixar-bodied cartoon character. I would have chosen AOC.

[quote imamearcat]@WorraLiberty I'm sure women with blue eyes and blonde hair are so much less of a woman. [/quote]
Well you could've picked one to be fair and not a kid's character.

I just don't see why you're disappointed in everyone else but not yourself.

Mostly white men @livefornaps.

Btw not criticising anyone for their individual choice, just sad none of them happened to be female. I would pick differently myself if I did it again.

You live and learn.

I think Elsa is a great character with some great qualities - a good choice and a bit lighthearted. I agree with you OP, people often don't pick out women as inspirational. It is a bit strange that everyone else in your group picked men and just maybe there is a bias there so I think you are right to ask the question.

@WorraLiberty why? Cartoon characters aside (as I think I've explained why we chose Elsa), what's wrong with women with blonde hair and blue eyes??

There is nothing wrong with women with blonde hair and blue eyes 🙄

But you didn't pick a woman did you? You basically picked a modern day Barbie doll when you could've picked an actual aspirational woman.

"I would pick differently myself if I did it again"

Fair enough, we all live and learn.

I absolutely hate this kind of crap, is this in the corporate world? I cant think of anyone famous I aspire to?

I can't believe I'm 'defending' Elsa here, but despite(?) her barbie looks, she's a pretty kick ass character? It was just a bit of fun on my side, and just an observation I've made on the rest of my team that has made me a bit sad.

Maybe just coincidence? But I very much doubt it.

I'd personally choose Katie Piper and Princess Diana (both blue eyes and blonde haired.. i think anyway)

@imamearcat

Mostly white men *@livefornaps*.

Btw not criticising anyone for their individual choice, just sad none of them happened to be female. I would pick differently myself if I did it again.

Are are literally criticising them all for their choice.

YANBU.

It's a well documented aspect of sexism, it hurts women's ability to get promoted to the top (because they don't fit the mental image that the people who could promote them have of success) and yes, it's sad and a bit horrifying that it's still so universal.

I think the responses on this thread - with so many women not even recognizing how this reflects societies view of women and how that can be problematic for women in society - are even sadder in some ways.

@BoomBoomsCousin

YANBU.

It's a well documented aspect of sexism, it hurts women's ability to get promoted to the top (because they don't fit the mental image that the people who could promote them have of success) and yes, it's sad and a bit horrifying that it's still so universal.

I think the responses on this thread - with so many women not even recognizing how this reflects societies view of women and how that can be problematic for women in society - are even sadder in some ways.

I guess we can’t all be Elsa. A fictional cartoon rather than all the actual women OP could have picked before moaning about sexism and how men NEVER admire women.

@user1473878824

I guess we can’t all be Elsa. A fictional cartoon rather than all the actual women OP could have picked before moaning about sexism and how men NEVER admire women.

I don't think OP is bemoaning how awful everyone else is compared to her. She's shocked that as a group all together they come up with lots of men and the only woman chosen is a cartoon character who is only there because OP let her daughter do it.

It isn't "Aren't these individuals awful people for not choosing women?"

It's "Wow. We have a lot of work to do still to get to equality."

Oh for goodness sake @user1473878824, I decided to have a bit of fun with my kid. Wouldn't have really been the same if we'd chose Germaine Greer would it??

It's not about my choice, or any other persons individual choice, they all had their reasons. It's about the fact that 20 other people all picked men or male characters.