Hi all, long time lurker. Something strange happened yesterday, I have thought about it several times since. I guess it is about unconscious bias? Not sure, but it was odd. I’d like to talk it through ….
I was staying in a hotel for work, went down for breakfast. Stated my room number, saw it on the breakfast list being checked by the (male) on the door. I am Dr. SmallGreenStripes, and since the room had been booked by my organisation, that was what was on the name list. I don’t usually use my Title for things like that.
He greeted me, then I told him my name and he looked down the list. As he looked, he said “let me check for your name, Miss SmallGreen Stripes”. Then he said Aha! Here it is! But it is down as Mr SmallGreenStripes. Never mind, follow me.
It didn’t say Mr. On the list. It said Dr. But I THINK he read it as Mr.
I have been wondering whether this is just a case of poor eyesight or a bias assuming a Dr is male? It’s happened often in meetings too when I arrive and have been assumed male over email (I have a unisex first name).
Just been musing about it in all the general crap about being female at the moment…..
Thanks for listening