Work Place Stories:

I was in Mary O.’s office, a cubbyhole of a room that had failed to qualify as a house keeping supply room. Protocols, procedures and quality control charts were strewn over her desk and reference books lined the shelves. Mary was the laboratory manager. The year was 1972. This was my first job as a clinical laboratory scientist and I was being hired for the evening shift, pay differential included.

In announcing my pay per hour, Mary explained that the men in the laboratory were paid an additional $ .05 per hour because “they have families.” I remember hearing these words and nodding in understanding. What amazes me as I share this story in 2010, some thirty eight years later, is that all I felt was a prickle of annoyance. I did not think to question the unfairness of the nickel difference. I am not sure why Mary O. thought I was working and if one of the reasons might have been that I had a family.

Even though the clinical laboratory profession consists primarily of women, men have been selected more often as managers than the women even through to this day. In addition to the salary, I understood the other subtle message then and now: the men were in charge in other ways as well.

Mary O. has long since passed away as a result of cancer. She was a dedicated clinical laboratory professional. She married late in life and had no children, in the tradition of women of those times who were pressured to choose between a meaningful career and family.

Jane Adrian