Before I begin this article I just want to say that this piece is just me ranting about my experiences of discrimination from the workplace. Everyone has their own opinions and definitions on discrimination-- especially as a woman. I want everyone, especially females, to learn from my occurrences and speak up for themselves if something like this has happened to them at work or in life.

Discrimination- the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

Synonyms: prejudice, bias, intolerance, narrow-mindedness, unfairness, inequity

I’ve been working since I was 18 years-old; and yes I have had my fair share of line of work. With the many jobs I’ve endured, I did not know what discrimination was until the behavior was regarding myself. Not only one job, but two jobs discriminated me for my appearance and gender.

The first encounter was when I worked for a popular boutique in Georgia. Their mottos are “Love People. Love Clothes.” and “...to help women realize their worth.” Which I was totally for the mottos because I try to live by uplifting women (and men) in any kind of life aspects. Most of the staff and management are women and I loved that honestly. The females I worked with were encouraging, beautiful, and amiable. They made work fun and enjoyable.

Here’s the first story:

During the training process, the newcomers received the employees handbook. One section in the handbook listed what your professional appearance needs to be. I did not disagree with what was listed. I asked my store manager at the time if it was fine for me (and everyone else) to wear my hair natural (I have curly locks) and not wear makeup as long as I look put together. She gave me the okay to do so. From time to time, I would wear my hair natural and my face bare, and I did not get a complaint from my coworkers, managers, or the customers. Months go by of my employment and one morning my store manager approached me when I walked into the store asking me if I had a straightener and makeup with me. I didn’t carry a purse at the time, so I didn’t have any of those items. She gave me a weird look and told me to proceed with my work. Moments later I was called to the backroom. The district manager and my store manager were sitting in chairs waiting for me. The district manager explained to me that not styling my hair a certain way and not wearing anything makeup is completely unprofessional and that I was fired. Legit that’s what she said. I didn’t say a word. Not one. So, I grabbed my things and left the store.

That was the first time for me getting fired from a job. My former store manager and coworkers did not stand up for me. They all watched me leave after being humiliated by the way I look from the district manager. I did not know that was discrimination then.

My second encounter was when I worked for a car dealership in the North Metro Atlanta area.

Here’s the second story:

When I walked into the car dealership to apply for a job that I really wanted, it came to my attention that they weren’t hiring for that specific position at the moment. But, there was an opening for another position that I could try out for the time being. So, I took it. Months went by and the position I took labor was getting bigger and overwhelming. Little did I know, I was doing some work that was out of my job description. I was doing some of my boss’s work, and that was not okay with me. When I came to the realization of that, I stopped doing my boss’s work and proceeded to do whatever was under MY job description. He did not like that I was taking charge in my rights and stop being taken advantage of.

Furthermore, another occurrence came about while I was still working at the dealership. I asked my boss for a raise because of the toil effort I put into my job and because I was not making ends meet. My boss simply said no to me, so I proceeded to find a second job. I did not manage to find a second job, which was okay with me.

In due course of my employment, my boss calls me into his office. Long story short, he let me go because of the “new job opportunity I was going to receive in the near future” and “since he couldn’t offer me a raise, he wanted me to be happy with the hourly pay somewhere else.” I could not believe what came out of his mouth. I knew his excuses were utter bullshit and that he did not like that I was powerful and strong minded in the workforce because I’m a woman. Weeks later I was told by a former coworker that my former boss has been spreading rumors around the dealership telling the management and workers that I did not do my job and I was slowing down the staff in the department. Now, I do not respect that man because he is messing with my character.

After the first encounter, I felt pathetic, not pretty enough, not worthy enough, and my self-esteem plummeted. I did not say anything to the upper management about the situation because I did not know how to address it. But, with the second encounter, I’m just infuriated with this broad fiery feeling because someone is fiddling about with my character. So now, I am using my voice.

Discrimination needs to stop in the workplace and just in general. Just because a female is more strong-willed than her own boss doesn’t mean they feel the need to bring her down just to make themselves feel better. Instead of distinguishing us, lift us up. Let us have a backbone. Let us females be who are a destined to be, powerful. Ladies, if you have ever been discriminated in your work industry, speak up and use your voice for it to stop. Be an example for others so they feel like they can do the same. Fight for what you believe in and I promise you, you will have people back you up and stand up with you. Don’t crawl in a hole and hope it doesn’t happen again, because it will. It happened to me twice. I did not take action the first time around, but this second time I am taking action and putting the word out there. This is not okay. Discrimination has got to get out of people’s minds and everyone needs to start treating each person as an equal. It won’t stop until someone speaks up and this is one of my testaments to stop discrimination, especially for us females.

Today, I will not be afraid to use my voice and stand up for what I believe in. I will fight for equality. I will be a backbone. I’ll empower women and uplift their self-confidence. I will be a powerful woman and not apologize for it.