As a young single mother in 2001, I was lectured by a boss on the importance of ironing. I was working at a shity call center whilst having two young children at home and no child support. Going to college part-time (so grateful for all that debt!) exhausted all the time, and this boss comes up to me, and actually feels the fabric of my shirt on the shoulder. He looks at me in a piteous way and says “do you not even own an iron!?” I was tired and just looked at him absolutely bewildered like, what? He goes on to lecture me about how important it is to look nice and to dress for the job you want not the job you have. I didn't even realize my shirt was, I don't know, I guess kind of wrinkly? but it was a big deal to this guy! This guy who probably had a stay-at-home wife to iron his shirts for him. and here he is lecturing me about ironing. And the worst part is I felt bad! I felt shame! I vowed to do better. Well, Fuck off Ken! I've been so gas lit by jobs over the years, and so much is coming back to me now at 50 years old, and I'm like “no that was wrong, that sucked, fuck that guy.”
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk