I never thought I would have this happen to me, but at my last job after there was a reorganization, my new young male boss flirted with me during a one-on-one meeting when his door was closed. I was giving a presentation on the progress I'd made on our annual report and in the middle of a sentence he interrupted me and asked if I drank. I was taken aback because I was trying to present something and I said "sometimes, why?" He proceeded to tell me that it looked like I could use a drink and he was planning on taking me out sometime. I suddenly was very aware that the door was closed and had never been in a situation like this before. Also, the language he used made it sound like I didn't have a choice in the matter.
I consider myself a strong woman and I was so unprepared for the moment I just kept presenting like he hadn't said anything.
Not only that, but when I would try and hold him to deadlines we had all agreed to as a team he would joke that I had "yelled" at him even though I hadn't even changed my tone of voice. The confusing thing was that he always highly praised me for the work I did, and for how fast I turned it in.
I was shocked to be treated differently than the rest of the team, for a while until the next hire I was the only woman and I felt it.
I appreciate that at my new job, it is a very balanced and diverse team and I've never felt judged for my age or gender. I am thankful I made the change so I no longer feel unsafe.
