I trained in a male dominated profession. When I was very young and not yet qualified, a much older and successful married man took a strong interest in me. I was flattered and thrilled to be having such a formidable man come to pick me up from work every evening, take me out somewhere nice and give me feedback and help on my work. He told me I was brilliant and talented. Within a few weeks he told me loved me, didn’t love his wife and was emotionally separated from her, etc etc. With this in mind it then became ‘serious’ for a few days before I realised I didn’t want an affair. I told him I just wanted to be friends and go back to the simple platonic relationship as before where he was my mentor and supporter, but that’s when he called me a b* and an ugly s** who was only good at one thing and actually really dreadful professionally and I would never amount to anything. The experience left me feeling used, stressed, ashamed, and his criticism of me professionally hurt my confidence.
Several years later, he’s in a very senior position and constantly banging on about the welfare of the younger professionals. I just feel like it’s all wrong. Is it?