What's a whisper network?

 A monthly letter/column as written for & published also by Women in Transportation Services

Dear Dennie,

What’s a whisper network and why does it exist?

No Secrets

Dear No Secrets,

A whisper network is an informal chain of information passed privately, usually between women, often focused on sharing who or what might be negatively influencing the security and/or abilities of women in the workplace. 

It is meant to be helpful, especially in environments where transparency is not practiced or encouraged. Often the network is willing to share what they know if asked; many are focused on finding solutions and helping the conversations come to the table. 

Mentoring is a means to take the informal information and work together to find action plans for an individual. 

Below are our panel’s notes from the discussion held at the Women in Transportation Services workshop May 25, 2020.

Top 10 things currently just in our "whisper network":

1. Being asked to do administrative tasks (minutes, notes), and being judged as difficult if you object or refuse
2. Dress code- stronger perception of how women dress compared to male counterparts, being judged more strongly on external appearances
3. Innuendos & favouritism, speculation that can originate from male/female mentor/sponsor relationships
4. Undermining technical knowledge because you are female, being judged as a "quota hire" or tokenism vs getting to be known for capabilities
5. Job security, both through Covid19 and in technology in general (rapidly changing industry where you are always having to reskill and upskill)
6. Being intimated to ask for promotions or raises especially with male bosses
7. Having the boldness to broach hard topics
8. Judgement of flex hours, many places have flexible policies but there is an unspoken stigma when they are used (i.e. leaving early, even if you started earlier, because others are still in the office)
9. Career growth through family planning, being promoted if you have children or are perceived to be having children soon
10. Showing emotions, balancing being tough (and the "bitch" perception) with being kind (and the "soft" or "emotional" perception)

The world needs mentors - you

Regardless of where you are in your career, you have something to contribute. Your experiences are valuable. Your caring is even more valuable. Your willingness to try? Priceless.

Benefits	Attributes	Outcomes
Considered best practice for career planning	Collaborative	A safe place for open and deep discussions
Opens endless doors to people, knowledge and networks	Relationship-based	Deliberate connecting and sharing
Stimulates new ideas	Candid and respectful	Challenges and questions assumptions
Ensures participants can find their areas of strength	Inclusive and focused	Personal satisfaction and recharged projects
Attracts high-potential individuals to sectors and/or opportunities that offer value beyond the traditional rewards	Authentic and growth-oriented	Option to make deliberate choices and changes

On #blackout Tuesday

I grew up in Quebec, during the FLQ and the PQ party rise and Expo 67 and the 76 Olympics. I grew up when girls took sewing/home ec classes and boys called each other "homo" thinking it referred to milk. I've been told I am not tall enough, pretty enough, quiet enough... I've been called bossy, feminist, trouble-maker... (and in this decade).

I have been sexually harassed and sexually abused. I've been paid 0.87 on the dollar. Passed over. Food insecure. I've been the only woman in the room. Told I ask too many questions. Told to tone down my natural red hair.

You get the idea.

Yet, I know that my skin colour, my educated speech and my degrees afford me privilege.

My experiences are horrible / sad / unfair. Acknowledging my privilege does not make them less awful. Acknowledging my privilege is necessary so I can learn how to share it or use it to create change.

Will writing a blog post change anything? Will a drop in the bucket add value? Those are not the correct questions. Withholding support until proof of success is offered is like refusing to vote until you know your candidate is elected.

The real question is what else can we do?

There are atrocities in this world today. Shameful, terrible atrocities in the system and in a few hearts.  Acknowledging them, standing up to bullies, changing what I can in my own circles is the least I can do.