Being in a position to "make a difference" but obstacles - how to keep positive?

[Dozer]

At work I am in a role where, theoretically, there are opportunities to do "good things" for women / equality. In brighter moments I get fired up and hopeful.

Exept there are barriers. I do not have decision-making power and colleagues are dismissive. Feel am being pigeon-holed (even though have been quite careful to try not to be). There seem to be unwritten rules that certain things are just not allowed even to be proposed, let alone acted on.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any tips?

are there any other departments where there might be women in the same position as you? Even if you haven't got allies close to you at work, you might be able to find someone elsewhere going through similar stuff.

Hmmm, yes there will be, I just don't know many people, but could try to meet some, that's a good idea.

do you work for the daily mail

Um no a MNetter, rarely post in feminism though.

Link up with other women either who are in the same kind of role or in a different role but committed to the same objectives of supporting/promoting whatever those good things are.

It can be frustrating when you are something of a "lone voice" in your field or organisation, but massively encouraging when you get and give support to others who are in similar "shoes" so to speak.

There are some professional associations or more informal groupings for women in some professions, so that might be a place to start. Best of luck.

Unwritten rules are meant to be broken. Dismissive colleagues are there to be openly challenged. Don't wimp out at the first sign of difficulty but believe in what you're trying to do and push it through, regardless. Be the awkward one and ignore convention. You'll only make things happen if you're not too worried about the rules or the approval of others.

I would like to be brave, and have tried, but keep getting slapped down. Will try harder though!

Why do you accept a slapping down? What would happen if you objected?

Public "shut up" dismissiveness and subtle put-downs so far. And explicit instructions not to spend time on some of the things have been trying to do.

If I continued likely to be talkings to, then criticisms in appraisal report, along lines of "dozer is misusing her time", "needs to improve her communication skills", "prioritise" etc. We use appraisal reports in job moves, so a bad one means basically being stuck in a job and, if things go really wrong, "managed out".

Is this from your direct line manager or your colleagues? Is there a senior woman you could bounce ideas off and get support from? Or is there a senior male who recognises the importance of diversity in the workplace?

It's both oneliein! I do know one such senior person (man).

Perhaps talking with the senior man open to diversity on the lines of .. oh god, too early, need coffee importance of diversity, always good to have an article to hand, been reading this, blah blah, being diverse leads to more success, how can we make our company a more diverse place?

Also top tip is to make it less about women and more about diversity

And I think it's a fine line IMHO between being an advocate and being strident (I am definitely strident and have had to hold back).

It's not about diversity etc within the organisation, more about things that could be done through the work the organisation does IYSWIM.

I am naturally strident too but have supressed it for a long time!