Page 12 - link magazine

Was it Good Enough for Women?
Last month The Link magazine's women's writer Elizabeth Wood talked to a group of fourth year girls at
Greendown School about their hopes and expectations of adult life in advance of a visit to the 'It's
Women's Work' Exhibition at the Oasis Centre in March. Louise Wilkes came away thinking there must
be more on offer.
I was going to begin by telling one of the college stands would like a strong dominant woman at
you of my expectations of the be more productive. The this moment. However I did come
exhibition but I didn't know what Swindon College stand was a hive away with something useful at
to expect. I was quite excited of activity and there were many the of the day. A small jewellery
when I realised how large and people like me looking through stand caught my eye and I asked
important it must be judging by the leaflets for some information the woman behind it how she got
all the publicity it was getting on their chosen subject. Someone set up in business. She was very
and how many people knew actually came and asked me what friendly and open and seemed
about it. I was interested in and when I very genuine. She told me how
I was quite impressed by the told her she suggested that I try she got started on the Young Above: Elaine Wilkes (photo:
'What's on Offer' sheets we were the Adver. stand! Enterprise Scheme and now sells EveningAdvertiser). Left: Watching
given when we arrived. They Fighting my through a mass of her work to shops on a sale or apprentice Sheena Murphy at work
gave a rundown of what each women waiting to have a face return basis. She advised me how on the Rover stand,from left, Naomi
stand had and a map so you could massage I decided to give the EA to get started and warned me that Goulding, Gillian Taylorand Abigail
find what you were looking for. I another try. This time there was I should be prepared for a very Parsons. Below: Paula Thompson
didn't quite understand the need somebody there - a man in a hard slog and not much cash in on her waytowiringa plug. Bottom:
for the discussion groups though. pinstriped suit looking bored. I return. The best advice she gave Considering keyboard skills at SERC,
When we first entered the main worked up the courage to speak me was to be confident and Julie Wilks, sitting and Sharon
hail where all the company stands to him. The response! got was as determined and to learn to cope Stand rin, wit hM rs Jenny Backs hell.
were it looked to me like a craft follows - "Oh so you want to be a with rejections - basically don't
fair. Trying not let this thought journalist do you? I hope you're give up!
put me off l headed for the Evening pretty intelligent then - here why My general feeling at the end
Advertiser stand. As I'm eager to don't you enter our competition?" of my visit was mixed. I felt
disappointed and discouraged in
a way. The stands were all very
impressive, especially the ones
from the big companies but it felt
like all these high and mighty
people just wanted to impress
the adults. They seemed more
anxious that their stand looked
better than everyone else's and
that the people that mattered -
press, photographers etc. noticed
them and saw what a good job
they were doing. They all chose
to talk to adults and expected us
to stay on the sidelines and not
get in the way.
The men seemed very flattened mouse. If there is one
condescending coming out with piece of advice I would give to
0 011
remarks like, "so you're one of the companies who exhibited it
become a journalist I thought this Hoping for abit more information those females who wants to go would be this. We don't want to
would be the perfect place to pick than that, I pressed him further. into industry are you?" The three know how big you are and how
up a few hints and tips to point "Why don't you go and try the representatives from Barclays well-known you are, we don't
me in the right direction. When I college stand?" He handed me a Bank seemed to think the only even want a copy of your glossy
got there I found it deserted. So I stick-on fluffy bug promoting the reason they were there was to magazine. We want to know how
continued onto the BBC Wiltshire Advertiser and turned away. I felt promote their company and hand you did it. How you got where
Sound stand where there was a lot as if somebody had just let all the out keyrings to kids - talk about a you are today and how we too
of people busily trying to set air out of me-deflated. He treated hard sell! can become a success. We want
everything up and paying no me like a little girl who should be I didn't really learn anything you to talk to us, not show us how
attention at all to the small group good and just run along - new and I certainly didn't feel you can turn a simple table into
of people hoping to talk to them. patronizing ***' like a confident woman ready to one giant advertisement for your
I decided that perhaps trying I must admit I wasn't feeling take on the world - more like a company.
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