How to deal with annoying people

Hi, I hold a relatively senior position at a large corporate and with me going off on mat leave soon people keep telling me to stop caring as I will have new priorities and my life will change. I'm not niave I know my life will change and my family is and will continue to be my priority but how do you deal with these well meaning but offensive statements?!
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hi i don’t really find them offensive i think they are a tad patronizing but i would not take these comments to heart too much it’s the same thing said to millions of soon to be mums in regards to work

This is absolutely offensive and you should say so. No one would ever tell an expecting father to stop caring as they'll have new priorities. Call them out. Words matter.

Why is this offensive?

@Trina How is it NOT? A man expecting a baby would never be told to stop caring as they'll have new priorities once they have a baby. It's unintentionally offensive at best, downright sexist at worst.

my husband has been told actually that his priorities will change…it’s another case of people genuinely not meaning offense and people jumping on a band wagon

@Joanne that’s a stretch in my opinion To say it’s sexiest is silly, only a woman can get pregnant a man cannot and that person is right. Stressing over things at work when you’re pregnant is not advisable. Maybe the wording was off but it’s not offensive.

@Trina so because 'only a woman can get pregnant' we have to subject ourselves to rhetoric that trivialises our approach and attitude to work? No thanks. The OP was justified in feeling how she did. There is a definitive double standard in the workforce and if we don't speak up about it, it will continue.

@Joanne you’re reading way too much into it. Can’t see how this “trivialises” anyone’s approach to work. But you have your opinion I just choose to focus on what’s going to matter to me in the next few months as opposed to feeding into something that once I give birth I wont care about. Being told to not care about work and to focus on your blessing/s is the realest thing any organisation can tell you and quite frankly show that they actually care. I wonder, if she was told “you must care even though you’re going on mat leave” how you would feel or what your opinion would be then. I can assumed you’d be equally offended..

@Trina we'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

@Sharon 100000000% agree!! It’s not offensive to be told, relax don’t worry about this you’re pregnant Or Relax don’t worry about this you’re going to be a dad soon and work will not be your first priority. People in this country over the years have become SO sensitive to things

I would find that offensive, sexist and patronising.

I did call out that while these comments may be well meaning they are offensive especially to someone as career driven as myself. I don't believe men often recieve such comments. There's research into the gender pay gap and the root cause - women leave to have children and may choose not to return. In my case I see a future where I return to work and try to have it all with an equally ambitious and supportive husband. Imho it is sexist and patronising.

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