One day when I was working away in my MidLaw Firm office . . . whoosh. A football flew past my door. I popped my head out the door (mistake). Swoosh. That was nearly a Whump, as the football flew past my head. Two Cool Male Associates were passing this football back and forth down the hall. “Sorry about that, the football helps us talk over a deal.”

A week later, at the Big Client team meeting, Two Cool Male Associates were bragging in front of Team Partner about the “Football Corner,” as they had dubbed it, and about how Equity Partner thought it was “really cool.” Team Partner laughed in agreement. In fact, Equity Partner was so into it that Two Cool Male Associates bought him a football jersey for his birthday. I could not help but remark on how the women in the office are not allowed to play games in the halls. Silence. I was the ultimate party-pooper (proof that it is possible for everyone in a room to dislike you, and it’s not you, it’s them).

I made no apologies. I could not help but imagine the workers compensation claim I would have filed had the football hit me in the head. I also imagined Two Hot Female Associates throwing a volleyball or pom-poms across the hall while we “talk over a Big Client deal.” Somehow feathers got into this picture, too. Although some partners might enjoy that, I assure you, a Victoria’s Secret approach to practicing law would not go over well for women.

What is a girl to do when sexual inequities abound? (This was not the first or the last one.) I was not going to file a lawsuit unless someone actually touched me inappropriately. Every woman I know knows a lawsuit is career suicide. I suppose I could have told Managing Partner about it. However, he was buddies with the Equity Partner who thought the Football Corner was really cool. This is one of those situations that everyone knows is inappropriate, but if an associate sought recourse while at the firm, she would be socially - and maybe professionally - blackballed within the firm, because she ruined the Boys Club fun.

For my recourse, I chose to blog it. That is all I care to do about it. How would you have handled it?

If You Like This Post, Try:

Et Al: The Gunner