How do I cope with being the only young woman in the office?

Aunty B,

I work in an office environment dominated by males. The only other female is the receptionist who is old. I am hip, new and young. Do any have any advice to help with working relationships and culture?

Regards,
N

Dear N,

Fantastic! I am probably the most qualified woman in the country to give you advice on how to get on with men in a workplace completely dominated by men as I have been on this situation a number of times.

Here is what I did: 

• I refused to go out for long lunches because I wanted to get my work done and go home to my family.
• I refused to drink alcohol at lunch because I wanted to focus in the afternoon.
• I wacked any man that sexually harassed me.
• I yelled at any man that every bullied me. 
• I asked not to be included in any of the stupid jokey things that tend to make the rounds in male dominated workplaces.
• I told people exactly what I thought of male dominated workplaces and worked tirelessly to get women in the door and into senior positions.
• I questioned why men who looked, sounded, smelt and talked like everyone else in the company kept being hired when there were fabulous women out there who were not getting a look in.

I finally realised that male-dominated workplaces were going the way of dinosaurs and in order to hurry up the process I decided to leave, start my own company with a great gender balance (I don’t want a female-dominated company either) and go head to head with them.
 
Here is what you should do.

1. The receptionist is your new best friend. She is old? What? Over 30? Drop your attitude and she will be very useful.
2. Get more women in. Any workplace dominated by men is inherently sexist. You just can’t see it yet.
3. Don’t put up with any shit and start to look for a new job now.

That’s it!
Good luck, be smart,
Your Aunty B