Feminist Pub 15: The Bluestocking hangs up its, err, stocking and hopes for a chatty Christmas and a Feminist New Year

[YonicSleighdriver]

Festive greetings!

This is the 15th incarnation of the Pub and is meant as a place to drop by with random thoughts and meandering chats, on feminist or other related themes. Anything you want to mull over but not necessarily start a thread about. Alternatively, get some booze and snacks and hang out! Lurkers, newbies and oldbies welcome.

We have a pub goat, a feminist cannon for firing at crazy sexists and we cheer each other up when patriarchy grinds us down...

Last pub drinkie linkie:

Pub 14

I refuse to buy trousers without pockets, which is a load of hassle when buying them but means I can carry a red pen, a pencil sharpener and my office key with me all the time at work. I get very irate when trying and failing to find pockets. I hate having to use a handbag, but I did buy a very small one which I use occasionally. It's about the size a pocket should be

Dd2 is Mary in her nativity tomorrow Apparently she stuck baby Jesus up her dress so he could come out of her tummy I think she's been told not to do that when the mums and dads are there. I've been allowed to take the time off work to go to it. That doesn't normally happen, but my friend has offered to take my class for an hour so I can go. I'm very excited

Dear Annie

I am writing to thank you for attending the interview and to inform you of the outcome of your application.

The managers have made their decision and, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been selected for the post.

The panel really enjoyed meeting you and felt that the interview went well; this was a difficult decision to make. They felt that the successful candidate’s skill-set, experience within a similar role as well as within this publishing area was more suited to the role.

We would really like to encourage you to apply for any future vacancies at XXX that you are interested in as we feel your skills and experience would be of benefit to us, details of our vacancies can be found on our website.

Fuck. Second place yet again.

But Puffins' grand-dad has cheered me up.

Fuckity arsecakes, Annie.

I'm so sorry Annie. That sucks.

That's three times now that the answer has been "you're great and we want you, but we just don't want you right now". I mean it's nice to not get a "fuck off you're crap", but ........ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghh!

Three years ago there was a company I really, really, really would like to work for but I know they demand a lot. Still, when they called me I went to an interview in my lunch time, totally unprepared because I knew I wouldn't get it but really wanted to see their offices. They called me within the hour to say they were so impressed that they wanted me to do a full day of interviews. I did, and then they turned me down. I know it's wimpy of me, but I cried for two days straight.

argh annie i'm sorry. i wish i had been more help

Poinsettia () you have been fantastic help! But you can't magically give me industry experience!! I doubt I've have made second place all these three times without your input and insight.

Oh Annie, I'm sorry. Agree that it's nice to get such an encouraging 'no' letter, but still....

Glad Gramps cheered you up though

i think the industry experience is a much more recent requirement than, say, 5-10 years ago. it seems to be happening across a lot of industries, where previously more people would have been considered without direct experience, but now even so-called entry-level jobs are going to people with at least a year or so's experience, often as temps or un/low paid work experience which simply isn't viable for people with more responsibilities

the "we want you but need more experience" is so infuriating when no one will let you gain the experience!

I'm sorry Annie . It's really shit to be rejected, even if it's a nice rejection letter.

Annie the job market has been really, really risk averse lately. Both I and a friend had been looking for jobs recently, and both of us have only found contract work through people we already know. It is really hard to win a job at the moment without someone on the 'inside' to back you.

Hello, everyone. Any prosecco going spare?

Annie I'm sorry about the job. When I was last job-hunting I found it so depressing how risk-averse and blinkered employers were. They literally were only interested in candidates for whom the role was a direct, small upward step. It sucks.

Sorry, Annie - that sucks. Job hunting is such a horrible process.

Sorry to jump in again after missing loads but did anyone watch The Newsroom this week? There was a plot with a girl who'd been raped, knew who it was but the police wouldn't arrest, she then sets up a name and shame type website.

Thanks for the sympathies everyone. You guys rock.

So, there's an AIBU thread on the go entitled AIBU To think it's stupid when people say "he's like that because he's a boy!"

AIBU to predict that it would be a terribly depressing read? Anyone had a look? I don't think I'm feeling brave enough.

TeWi I didn't, but I did read Hadley Freeman's take on it
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/10/aaron-sorkin-viewers-shut-up-rape-victims

Hmm looking back at my last post I realize it sounds a bit me me me me me, but I wasn't trying to make it about me (really!) just trying to commiserate with the frustration of almost getting it. In my case, I find it easier to deal with straight out rejections, KWIM?

Yeah, not just me then! This linked from the guardian article is good: writer shut down for complaining about it

Just so insanely patriarchal. You can't have a trial. I can't believe you because he's not officially guilty. You can't warn others because someone might abuse the opportunity. I won't let you on tv to talk about this because people will be mean to you.

Fuck you patriarchy.

No, don't worry, Fibonacci, I got what you meant any realised it was empathy not "me me me"!

Puffin's Gramps is fantastic. I love a bit of independent thought from kids!

Our school have the same costumes each year, so DS1's joseph (tries not to grin) costume just came home to be washed/ironed - so I shoved it in the washing machine on steam cycle and sent it back.

That's bad luck Annie - it's worse when you actually want to work somewhere.

I just got bounced from another job (they didn't like my technical test - very confused about whether what I'd done was too simple, or too complicated though, and they'd actually said on the phone to do it quick and simple, yet the feedback suggested they wanted something rather over-engineered), but I had a feeling it wasn't a good fit for me anyway so I sent a slightly passive-aggressive thankyou back and now have an interview with Amazon instead which is much better.

I watched Newsroom, I'm going to go back and watch it again now, because I didn't take quite the same read as Hadley Freeman - I actually thought they were trying to have the producer be both realistic, and sympathetic (not quite the right word). I'm not sure I agree with the critisism of the female characters either - I think they're all stereotypes.. I will have to ponder some more.

Good luck for your interview Chunky.

This has amused me today.

O dear. Get well soon Buffy!