To break the glass ceiling - inspirational story #4

Women often have to pull a tie and break balls
and the glass ceiling.

In one of my previous posts, I already mentioned a feminist online periodical I read from time to time. One the recent issues focused on so called ‘glass ceiling’, an invisible barrier which women often struggle to break, in order to gain a higher hierarchy position. The issue featured talks of several successful female executive managers of large private companies. They all shared their stories how they made their way up through the male-dominated corporate world. Some of them encountered hurdles made of sexism, toxic masculinity and misuse of power by senior male executives. 

I found the story of Alison, a CEO of a pharmaceutical company and her account how she coped with the issue of sexual harassment a particularly interesting one. This is an excerpt from her story:  I started as an apprentice in the company during my university studies and at the age of 25, I made it up to the position of an assistant of the marketing director. However, my ambitions were higher. I felt that although I worked more and better than most men, they have climbed the career ladder rather effortlessly. My boss, Billy was a typical young cocky playboy of the 90ties who wanted to have everything: power, money and especially sex at will. The more I refused his advances, the more pushy and more inappropriate his attitude towards me become. All I have done was to ignore it and just followed my mother’s advice, “Let it be, you can’t change men.” As most women in my position, I was worrying that any counter action would just backfire and hamper my already quite difficult way to fulfil my aspirations.

After two new promising drugs failing in clinical trials and some significant financial loses there was a huge turmoil in the company. The executive board decided to replace the company’s CEO. There were rumors my boss is one of the two prime candidates. In the morning, just two hours before the hearing meeting, I was with him in the office helping him to go through some documents, so he finally gets some figures right. At some point I was preparing coffee for both of us, when suddenly I felt a hand slipped inside my skirt and gnawed my buttock. Another hand arrogantly landed on my breast. “Alison, you look so great today,” he whispered to my ears as he was kissing my hair and probably hoping that some phony compliments would melt me down and  he will finally have it his way this time. “Why not to have some fun before that meeting honey? You know it would help me to relax, I really need it. Don’t you want me to become the next CEO, hmmm?”

“Billy, please stop it! I told you thousand times, leave me alone, I don’t want it.”  My appeal was of no avail, he persisted in his advances and pressed against me so I could feel his erection and then tried to bend me over a desk.  My whole life I have been respectful to men in charge and I hated to make a scene. However, he was now clearly crossing the border.  I realized that what was just a sexual harassment was suddenly turning into a rape attempt.

I used all my might to turn around and I slapped him in the face “I told you to stop, Billy! What an asshole are you!”  I pushed him aside and wanted to leave the room, but he forcefully pulled me back. I saw no other option than to physically retaliate and to use what I learned in my self defense course.  I grabbed his tie and wrapped it around his neck and yanked it down behind his back. The chocking effect and the pull made him to buckle up and spread his legs to prevent him from falling. I expected this effect, so I used this instance and with full force I ram my knee up to his testicles. Not just once, I did it several times for the best measure. The squishy feeling on my kneecap was telling me my aiming was precise.  Then I got hold of his shoulder and slammed him head on against the wall. While still pulling on his tie and pressing him against the wall, I reached with my hand up between his thighs from the back and grasped his male package. It wasn’t particularly difficult to find those two orbs and to make a secure grip as the fabric of the suit was thin. As I was holding his two precious jewels, I yelled  “I hope it was enough and you don’t want me to demonstrate some other self defense techniques I know.”  To make sure he understands that those techniques would be quite painful to him, I squeezed his balls just a little for a demonstration. As the neck-wrapped tie was chocking him, he could not make any sound, so he just nodded in agreement. I released my grip and let him go. Poor Billy crumbled on the floor gasping for air. I crouched next to him, looked into his eyes, and ruffled his perfect haircut with an ironic comment “Make yourself up before the meeting Billy, you look terrible.”  I took my bag, left the office, and haven’t come back that day.  

My colleague wrote me a message that the executive board hearing didn’t go well for him and he lost to his rival. Apparently, his high-pitched voice and a distracted speech added to an overall bad impression. Next day I contacted the HR and asked for reassignment. By a twist of fate, I become one of the new CEO’s assistants and later made it up to the absolute top.

In the comments below many women praised Alison’s action and how she dealt with the situation. Some wrote they have the similar experience and proposed a new movement called #Ikneedhimtoo. One commenter wrote a spot-on comment that it is so unfortunate that many women must sometimes break other things than just the glass ceiling during their career. Alison used a highly effective technique for her defense, a knee strike to the testicles. I have been quite busy lately, but I will definitely discuss this staple method of female self defense in one of my next posts.