Far from dissipating over the last decade, misogyny in the ad industry has simply mutated into something insidious, invisible, lurking in the shadows. It’s time to fire up the floodlights.
Didn't come from the ad space. Came from tech. These stories are my stories. And they're true for so many women I know who tried so hard to work in these spaces. It is brave and hard to read. And I still ask, "where are the 'good men' and why aren't more stepping up?" Men constantly tell me they care and it matters. GOOD. It should. Where are those voices stepping up to call out their friends and colleagues for this behavior? Men, do more.
Kudos on bringing light to what takes place behind closed doors, behind the scenes and subtly between the lines. Not to hijack the focus of the issue and pain here, but I’m not a woman, but being black male I resonate with how difficult and exhausting it is to ‘prove’ or see justice for improper treatment in the workplace. The most powerful thing we can do is continue to use REAL stories. I always tell my friends “the data doesn’t lie” - and that’s what you’re doing by showing all these stories. More power to you. Now: let’s see change 🗣
In my previous agency, a colleague invited me to a house party (after the staff Christmas party) where loads of our team were also going. When I got there, there was no one else there and no one else was coming. When I realised i wasn't safe, I made a bee-line for the door but he rugby tackled me (later he told the Police that this was a passionate embrace) and dragged me into one of the bedrooms. I managed to fight him off and legged it out of there. The next day I was afraid to go to work because of what might happen, but I told my manager and she marched me down to HR. HR called the Police, who picked him up the next time he came into the office (he was 'sick' the day after the party of course). I never saw him again - he was a freelancer and was simply taken off the books. The Police gave him a caution but could do no more as he had said i'd been kissing and 'encouraging' him at the party which was absolutely not true. It was my word against his, nonetheless. I'll never forget how sad the Officer sounded when he had to tell me that. He knew I was telling the truth but there was nothing he could do.
At my current agency, a colleague offered to walk me back to the office from the pub, to get my coat and bag because it 'wasn't safe' for me to walk back alone. He ended up coming up to my desk with me which was there he then decided to tell me that he and all my other male colleagues thought I was 'fit' and that they would regularly discuss what i was wearing over IM each day. He then asked me if i'd like to have sex with him in one of the meeting rooms. Feeling embarrassed and afraid, I left the room to call a taxi. When I came back he was masturbating rigt there on the sofa, and asked me again if i'd like to have sex with him. I left. The next day he emailed me to say 'sorry if things got weird last night' and suggested we never speak of it again. Which was fine with me until I realised that I couldn't walk around the office without feeling that all those guys were staring at me, and that generally i just didn't feel safe. I started to change how I dressed because i didn't want to be talked about in that way. Then I thought, actually this isn't my fault. I spoke to my boss who had never heard anything like it before. The guy was asked to resign the next day - apparently this report was part of a cherry on the cake situation, as he had already built up a reputation for coming in late, drunk and on drugs.
It pains me to share both of those experiences and to read those listed here. But also I think its important to speak out about them - thank you for your article Zoe!
I would advise anyone who has experienced this kind of harassment to ignore any feelings of shame or fear and report it. You deserve to feel safe at work (well anywhere, really).
I run my own agency and fired my biggest client in March 2020, right at the outset of the CoVid uncertainly, because of his horrendous behaviour. But I was only able to do that because, at 50, dozens of shitty experiences brought me to a point of "Enough." For years I was too scared of the ramifications of speaking up.
Going out on a limb here but is there a way to create a none traceable site or even a Google sheets to expose these men? I’ve been in agency-land for the majority of my career and have had both client and colleague(s) experiences of sexual harassment, there are a few of the stories shared that I resonate with as it feels like my story. I feel like we’ve all been made to just live with it like it’s a normal part of the industry. At my current agency the guy I report into is a massive pig. There are so many stories about who he’s slept with and the “relationships” he’s had in our group (not just agency). He’s lauded like a hero and enjoys unfettered HR protection. He was also promoted last year when people that were 10x more worthy lost their jobs. So much to say but just want these men (inc other men that protect them), HR and even the women that protect and enable these men to be held accountable. Thank you for starting this movement Zoe 🙏
Thanks for writing this Megan, it's still dreadfully sad that this goes on, I've been working with this type of behaviour to me and around me for over 35 years, obviously it's more witnessed by me now, rather than experienced, as I'm deemed as 'too old' to be attractive and too bolshy of course. I had to take legal action against one well known agency CEO who was sexist, misogynist, homophobic and down right rude, wanting to create "mini him's" in the agency of the males and would you believe his MD was a female who just let him get away with his behaviour until I could prove, 100% his behaviours. Everyone on the agency thought I was mad standing up to them and that I'd loose my job, no problem, I mad them pay me out of my contract and they had to change their behaviours, a lot of people from that agency are still wary of me, terrible really that, me, as the victim and the ones I stood up for, were more upset with me and not him....
This is an excellent read, shocking but not surprising sadly. Still no safe place to ‘say their names’ though (unless I’ve missed it). It feels like a whirlpool though Zoe, you’re generating energy and momentum and one day we will get there, so thank you. Yes it should come sooner, in fact it should never have got to this place should I it! I propose a list of agencies, perhaps even departments if we’re feeling extra brave, with a time line by each, a communal place (I’m thinking google docs esque yuk), make a mark/vote…a pattern will soon emerge. Still no naming, still no need for any woman to feel they have to question their memory or be scrutinised, but a pattern WILL emerge, and whilst no names will be mentioned, it won’t take a genius to figure out who the bro culture perpetrators are. Let them squirm a little.
Everybody reading this - please also watch the first 15 minutes of my 3PercentConference 2017 keynote, on why the single biggest business issue facing the advertising (and every other) industry, is sexual harassment, NOT diversity and inclusion - because sexual harassment keeps out of leadership, power and influence, the women who would make gender equality, diversity and inclusion happen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruowB5L33gY&t=1046s I've been trying to get these stories broken and, importantly, NAMES NAMED in the media for years - because the problem with anonymous anecdotes, however appalling, is that women empathize, and men don't give a shit. If Zoe's post and my talk make you finally angry enough to speak up and name names, women AND men of the advertising industry, please email cindy@ifwerantheworld.com and I'll connect you with trusted journalists to speak to in confidence so that they can take on breaking the story.
I wish there was a shift in how we think about sexism. Most people love to think there's good guys and bad guys, but there's not. We are all sexist to some degree. The rejection that most people have to the idea that they themselves are doing sexist things everyday - because a sexist is some creepy monster and that's clearly not them - is a barrier to changing ad agency culture and gender bias in general. I've had super great male bosses, and even they have at times said or done something sexist to me. I've had horrible toxic male bosses, and even they have at times done something helpful for me. I would make a comment about female bosses too, but I'm yet to have one. People think I'm a raging feminist - but if someone said to me, "Hey, what you just did is sexist", I would have to stop and look at the behaviour they're flagging and probably acknowledge they are right - because even I can be sexist sometimes. I'm always trying to learn and grow and be less sexist. But the idea that there's some line that divides sexists from normal people is a lie.
Female commercial director here. We are exhausted from pitching to these ad men who will never hire us. Exhausted because our time and talent being wasted and often our ideas stolen. Our pay gap increases with each job we lose to a mediocre male director. It was trendy a few years ago to hire female directors so we saw a spike in work but it has now almost dropped to nothing... so few of the female commercial directors are actually working. Thank you for writing this article, you have put into words what we women directors suspected along... Ad agencies are full of misogynists who don't give a fuck about hiring women. Faux feminist. We are sorry for your experiences, we stand in solidarity and have many stories of our own.
Bravo! Straight out of college I moved overseas knowing only my future husband. Interviewing for my first 'dream agency' job in the late 80s, the CD asked if I was planning to have a baby anytime soon. As the bold Yank, I stared at him and said, you can't ask me that! Do you ask the men if they're planning to squirt one out anytime soon? He looked stricken, then laughed and said oh shit, I never thought about it that way. I got hired on the spot. He ended up being an amazing boss and I loved the agency (but did run into bullshit harassment in later jobs). Occasionally, he introduced me to people as one of the agency's most talented writers and would add he hired me because he was shit scared I'd sue him. I'd just stare at him and say, 'damn straight, <last name>.' We're still friends to this day.
Others I've worked with I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire. I'd roast marshmallows.
It's not just advertising. When I was younger I went for a job in digital and was told by the company boss (very well known in the UK) that he already had someone lined up for the job but just wanted to have a look at me because he'd been told I was hot with big tits. He even pointed out that "they would certainly help me get hired somewhere else". Another guy who ran an agency said he only hired men for senior roles because he was "sick of putting the effort into training women in their thirties up, only for them to start squirting out babies on his payroll".
I'm not in advertising but your stories are eerily similar to what happened to me at Accenture (management consulting). Constant sexual harassment from clients, executives, and managers alike. These work hard, play hard industries unfortunately prey on young women.
Thank you for the unflinching commentary. I’ve been in the ad industry for over 20 years and have dozens of stories. I will spare you, but I do want to say but not all women are allies. I have suffered at the hands of men while senior women ignored or justify their actions. We need to knock this shit off.
This is a painful, but necessary read for everyone working in the advertising industry.
On completion, if you don't feel sick, guilty, tired and ashamed...something is wrong with you.
Didn't come from the ad space. Came from tech. These stories are my stories. And they're true for so many women I know who tried so hard to work in these spaces. It is brave and hard to read. And I still ask, "where are the 'good men' and why aren't more stepping up?" Men constantly tell me they care and it matters. GOOD. It should. Where are those voices stepping up to call out their friends and colleagues for this behavior? Men, do more.
Kudos on bringing light to what takes place behind closed doors, behind the scenes and subtly between the lines. Not to hijack the focus of the issue and pain here, but I’m not a woman, but being black male I resonate with how difficult and exhausting it is to ‘prove’ or see justice for improper treatment in the workplace. The most powerful thing we can do is continue to use REAL stories. I always tell my friends “the data doesn’t lie” - and that’s what you’re doing by showing all these stories. More power to you. Now: let’s see change 🗣
This resonates all too well with me.
In my previous agency, a colleague invited me to a house party (after the staff Christmas party) where loads of our team were also going. When I got there, there was no one else there and no one else was coming. When I realised i wasn't safe, I made a bee-line for the door but he rugby tackled me (later he told the Police that this was a passionate embrace) and dragged me into one of the bedrooms. I managed to fight him off and legged it out of there. The next day I was afraid to go to work because of what might happen, but I told my manager and she marched me down to HR. HR called the Police, who picked him up the next time he came into the office (he was 'sick' the day after the party of course). I never saw him again - he was a freelancer and was simply taken off the books. The Police gave him a caution but could do no more as he had said i'd been kissing and 'encouraging' him at the party which was absolutely not true. It was my word against his, nonetheless. I'll never forget how sad the Officer sounded when he had to tell me that. He knew I was telling the truth but there was nothing he could do.
At my current agency, a colleague offered to walk me back to the office from the pub, to get my coat and bag because it 'wasn't safe' for me to walk back alone. He ended up coming up to my desk with me which was there he then decided to tell me that he and all my other male colleagues thought I was 'fit' and that they would regularly discuss what i was wearing over IM each day. He then asked me if i'd like to have sex with him in one of the meeting rooms. Feeling embarrassed and afraid, I left the room to call a taxi. When I came back he was masturbating rigt there on the sofa, and asked me again if i'd like to have sex with him. I left. The next day he emailed me to say 'sorry if things got weird last night' and suggested we never speak of it again. Which was fine with me until I realised that I couldn't walk around the office without feeling that all those guys were staring at me, and that generally i just didn't feel safe. I started to change how I dressed because i didn't want to be talked about in that way. Then I thought, actually this isn't my fault. I spoke to my boss who had never heard anything like it before. The guy was asked to resign the next day - apparently this report was part of a cherry on the cake situation, as he had already built up a reputation for coming in late, drunk and on drugs.
It pains me to share both of those experiences and to read those listed here. But also I think its important to speak out about them - thank you for your article Zoe!
I would advise anyone who has experienced this kind of harassment to ignore any feelings of shame or fear and report it. You deserve to feel safe at work (well anywhere, really).
I run my own agency and fired my biggest client in March 2020, right at the outset of the CoVid uncertainly, because of his horrendous behaviour. But I was only able to do that because, at 50, dozens of shitty experiences brought me to a point of "Enough." For years I was too scared of the ramifications of speaking up.
Going out on a limb here but is there a way to create a none traceable site or even a Google sheets to expose these men? I’ve been in agency-land for the majority of my career and have had both client and colleague(s) experiences of sexual harassment, there are a few of the stories shared that I resonate with as it feels like my story. I feel like we’ve all been made to just live with it like it’s a normal part of the industry. At my current agency the guy I report into is a massive pig. There are so many stories about who he’s slept with and the “relationships” he’s had in our group (not just agency). He’s lauded like a hero and enjoys unfettered HR protection. He was also promoted last year when people that were 10x more worthy lost their jobs. So much to say but just want these men (inc other men that protect them), HR and even the women that protect and enable these men to be held accountable. Thank you for starting this movement Zoe 🙏
Thanks for writing this Megan, it's still dreadfully sad that this goes on, I've been working with this type of behaviour to me and around me for over 35 years, obviously it's more witnessed by me now, rather than experienced, as I'm deemed as 'too old' to be attractive and too bolshy of course. I had to take legal action against one well known agency CEO who was sexist, misogynist, homophobic and down right rude, wanting to create "mini him's" in the agency of the males and would you believe his MD was a female who just let him get away with his behaviour until I could prove, 100% his behaviours. Everyone on the agency thought I was mad standing up to them and that I'd loose my job, no problem, I mad them pay me out of my contract and they had to change their behaviours, a lot of people from that agency are still wary of me, terrible really that, me, as the victim and the ones I stood up for, were more upset with me and not him....
This is an excellent read, shocking but not surprising sadly. Still no safe place to ‘say their names’ though (unless I’ve missed it). It feels like a whirlpool though Zoe, you’re generating energy and momentum and one day we will get there, so thank you. Yes it should come sooner, in fact it should never have got to this place should I it! I propose a list of agencies, perhaps even departments if we’re feeling extra brave, with a time line by each, a communal place (I’m thinking google docs esque yuk), make a mark/vote…a pattern will soon emerge. Still no naming, still no need for any woman to feel they have to question their memory or be scrutinised, but a pattern WILL emerge, and whilst no names will be mentioned, it won’t take a genius to figure out who the bro culture perpetrators are. Let them squirm a little.
Everybody reading this - please also watch the first 15 minutes of my 3PercentConference 2017 keynote, on why the single biggest business issue facing the advertising (and every other) industry, is sexual harassment, NOT diversity and inclusion - because sexual harassment keeps out of leadership, power and influence, the women who would make gender equality, diversity and inclusion happen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruowB5L33gY&t=1046s I've been trying to get these stories broken and, importantly, NAMES NAMED in the media for years - because the problem with anonymous anecdotes, however appalling, is that women empathize, and men don't give a shit. If Zoe's post and my talk make you finally angry enough to speak up and name names, women AND men of the advertising industry, please email cindy@ifwerantheworld.com and I'll connect you with trusted journalists to speak to in confidence so that they can take on breaking the story.
I wish there was a shift in how we think about sexism. Most people love to think there's good guys and bad guys, but there's not. We are all sexist to some degree. The rejection that most people have to the idea that they themselves are doing sexist things everyday - because a sexist is some creepy monster and that's clearly not them - is a barrier to changing ad agency culture and gender bias in general. I've had super great male bosses, and even they have at times said or done something sexist to me. I've had horrible toxic male bosses, and even they have at times done something helpful for me. I would make a comment about female bosses too, but I'm yet to have one. People think I'm a raging feminist - but if someone said to me, "Hey, what you just did is sexist", I would have to stop and look at the behaviour they're flagging and probably acknowledge they are right - because even I can be sexist sometimes. I'm always trying to learn and grow and be less sexist. But the idea that there's some line that divides sexists from normal people is a lie.
Female commercial director here. We are exhausted from pitching to these ad men who will never hire us. Exhausted because our time and talent being wasted and often our ideas stolen. Our pay gap increases with each job we lose to a mediocre male director. It was trendy a few years ago to hire female directors so we saw a spike in work but it has now almost dropped to nothing... so few of the female commercial directors are actually working. Thank you for writing this article, you have put into words what we women directors suspected along... Ad agencies are full of misogynists who don't give a fuck about hiring women. Faux feminist. We are sorry for your experiences, we stand in solidarity and have many stories of our own.
Bravo! Straight out of college I moved overseas knowing only my future husband. Interviewing for my first 'dream agency' job in the late 80s, the CD asked if I was planning to have a baby anytime soon. As the bold Yank, I stared at him and said, you can't ask me that! Do you ask the men if they're planning to squirt one out anytime soon? He looked stricken, then laughed and said oh shit, I never thought about it that way. I got hired on the spot. He ended up being an amazing boss and I loved the agency (but did run into bullshit harassment in later jobs). Occasionally, he introduced me to people as one of the agency's most talented writers and would add he hired me because he was shit scared I'd sue him. I'd just stare at him and say, 'damn straight, <last name>.' We're still friends to this day.
Others I've worked with I wouldn't piss on if they were on fire. I'd roast marshmallows.
It's not just advertising. When I was younger I went for a job in digital and was told by the company boss (very well known in the UK) that he already had someone lined up for the job but just wanted to have a look at me because he'd been told I was hot with big tits. He even pointed out that "they would certainly help me get hired somewhere else". Another guy who ran an agency said he only hired men for senior roles because he was "sick of putting the effort into training women in their thirties up, only for them to start squirting out babies on his payroll".
I'm not in advertising but your stories are eerily similar to what happened to me at Accenture (management consulting). Constant sexual harassment from clients, executives, and managers alike. These work hard, play hard industries unfortunately prey on young women.
You are a force, Zoe. The inferno you’re creating with this piece and your advocacy should terrify the abusers and the enablers. Bravo.
Thank you for the unflinching commentary. I’ve been in the ad industry for over 20 years and have dozens of stories. I will spare you, but I do want to say but not all women are allies. I have suffered at the hands of men while senior women ignored or justify their actions. We need to knock this shit off.