Service with a smile

Privilege is such an insidious beast. In my office, there is a definite power hierarchy in place that puts menial task as the domain of the (female) assistant. Sadly it’s not just the older men that reinforce this hierarchy but also some women in the office who perhaps are threatened by the other’s youth and difference in educational background. I am not immune to the effects of the hierarchy, when I help out or even just do my part in some sense I feel proud of the fact that I am not contributing to the problem. This is not right.

I should not feel proud or as if I have accomplished something when I am performing a task that all people are implicitly expected to do. Feeling proud means that I am subconsciously reinforcing the bias that it is the duty of the young female assistant to take on menial, “household” tasks in the workplace. When the only I action I take to correct the situation is to take on the menial task myself, I am perpetuating the bias that it is a woman’s place to take care of others. That it is the “natural” course of events. I don’t know how to address the situation without creating a larger issue or additional friction in the office.

A friend worked in an office where the kitchen duties were rotated on a roster each week, including the überboss of the corporation. When she told me about this, I tried to imagine such a routine in my office. It would be balked for sure. My überboss would not take part and I can imagine that although the schedule might be grudgingly followed for one rotation it would soon be discarded. How do we escape from power imbalances that are justified because “that’s just the way it is”?

All About Me

I have twice met women who I’ve felt could be glimpses into my future; a moment where timelines overlap and enlightenment is granted. The first woman I met was my second year creative non-fiction professor. Long silver hair plaited into a simple braid, wearing flowing earth tone clothes and Birkenstock clogs. She was just what I hoped to be as an established writer and encouraging other people in their own creative endeavors.

The next woman I met was not much older than I was and had the same career. We shared many of the same interests and the same intensity but hers were honed to a further degree. In many ways she showed me what I would be like if my I didn’t temper my hobbies or group interactions. The result was someone who has traits that annoy the hell out of me at times. She’s a signpost of where I might end up by following the safe route.

Recently I have met someone who could be a past me and it is truly bizarre. We are both from northern California with a Norwegian background. She came to finish her degree at UBC but has a more analytical mind and actually spent time living in Norway. It feels as though she represents a way that I could’ve gone if I had followed some of my other dreams. She’s younger than me by three or so years and I sometimes feel like I’m talking to myself.

One of my favorite movies is “Sliding Doors” which has one character experiencing two timeline possibilities originating from one action: catching or missing a train. Perhaps it is my exposure to science fiction which makes me more credulous when it comes to the concept of multiple timelines in everyday life. You never know who you’ll meet.

There's the rub

There are a few things that irritate me about invoicing but there are two guaranteed to get me wishing the vendor ill. The first is not having a subtotal prior to taxes and the second is not having pre-perforated forms for remittance slips. Addressing the latter first, what company even needs a remittance slip any longer? The invoice number is either noted on the cheque stub or referenced in the EFT. But assume you have a vendor that bears a grudge against trees and requires the remittance slip. It’s annoying as hell to have to take time once a month, or more, to cut along the dotted lines and creatively fold the slip to fit into an envelope. Seriously. Perforate the damn paper.

Then we have the slapdash invoices that have several lines of costs, a line for the tax amount and a total at the bottom. The missing step here is that now to do a simple entry or check and balance, the customer has to tally up each line item. Pain. In. The. Ass. Give me a subtotal to easily reference and, while you’re at it, make sure your tax number is on the invoice. Work with me.

Master of my domain

Normally I’d have some ponderable from the ladies room for y’all but not this time. No, at the moment my ire and bemusement is saved for Ticketmaster. Seriously, how is it that we have nine versions of a social network but we’re still paying $10 “convenience fees” to book tickets? If Ticketmaster is the only purchase point, it’s not convenient – it’s mandatory. Let’s just be honest and call it the “monopoly fee” – if possible, I’d just pay with Monopoly money.

Seriously internets, don’t we deserve better than Ticketmaster? Can’t venues take charge of their own online bookings? Take back ticketing!