Men, what a disaster

I’ve always worked with men. After the initial gallantry, they always forgot I was a woman since, despite my minute physique (as my father used to call it), I overloaded myself with all the hard tasks, including the extra hours of work. I never suffered from this, in fact, I always found it stimulating.

Today I’m the “boss” and I’ve tried various times to form a staff in which there was at least another man. However, the more time goes by, the more it becomes difficult. And after some self-eliminations, we’ve “automatically” become an all-women-team. It’s difficult to speak about it because I wouldn’t like to generalise. However, I believe that the main problem with the men that have worked at Percorsi di Gusto has always been that of having a female “boss”, something many considered as a problem.

I remember what happened once with I guy I had selected to take care of the coffee. One day something led me to I ask him: «Why did the girl I asked for an espresso answer “I can’t make it”?». The boy answered: «Because females can only prepare the saucer and the teaspoon and open a bottle of Campari». I was assailed by a hot flash and had to gnash my teeth in order to remain silent while thinking what to do. I was facing a serious mental limit, which was worsened by the fact I had always seen this boy as the number one in his job, in fact he was avantgarde. In the end I asked for that girl, who by the way had real character and professionalism, to be moved to the morning shift with me, and I put her in charge of the coffee – which, moreover, at that time already was the splendid mixture made by Giovanni Frasi.

Nobody discriminated anymore, since that day. Of course this is not always the case: great male chefs are great and can interact with Venus despite coming from Mars. I know maternity is a bit of a problem in our job: perhaps it forces us to stay away for some time, but I’ve seen men convinced they were dying because of a 37.5°C temperature.

Finally, a clarification: I’m not a fan of apartheid, nor a politician who weighs pink and blue quotas. I’ve always liked mixed-sex classes, ever since I went to school. I therefore hope I will have some men in the team again, in the future. I only hope they will keep up with the rhythm.