I just received an invite from the women's initiative of the Atlanta office of a Biglaw firm for an upcoming event. The guest is a FLORIST and they are going to be showing attendees (who would be primarily female attorneys!) how to make FLORAL ARRANGEMENTA. Not a judge. Not a businesswoman. Not a motivational speaker. A FLORIST. I am absolutely horrified. This has to be one of the most sexist things I have ever seen. How could they think this was a good idea?

Under his eye, I suppose.

Honestly, I think this sounds like a fun idea for a women’s networking event. Not everything has to be professional and serious all the time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

So, I hear you.

But, I like flowers and have taken floral arrangement classes with friends, mostly women. Flowers are feminine, flower arranging is feminine. Why can’t flower arranging be strong and professional and also feminine? Golf is just hitting a little ball around a garden with a shiny wand, but we don’t question golf tournaments as professional hotspots. How is this different?

I worry that we hasten to judge an event like this because men have told us flowers are feminine and frivolous, because women are feminine and frivolous. But, we don’t have to accept that.

We can reclaim and rebrand these things that men dismiss. Feminine things can be powerful and strong and cool and good for business. If there are powerful, professional women who like flowers and want to arrange flowers together, let it be a powerhouse event. If it’s not for you, ignore it. But let’s not continue the thinly veiled misogyny of dismissing feminine things for no reason other than that they’re feminine.

Especially because I’d way rather do this than a golf tournament.

Reminds me of Dentons Chicago, they did something similar head up by a female associate

Unhinged. 😳

At first blush, I hear you. If the point of this group is just to have a professional lecture series, and this is presented as that, then sure it seems off. But if this is meant to be more of a social event, then I think it’s fun. Something totally different and meant to be enjoyable. I’m in several women’s groups that have regularly “serious”’programming with annual fun events. Last year it was a spa day. The year before was a cocktail and yoga class. I think a floral arrangement class would be super fun, and see why they may do one around Valentine’s Day.

I think the key is the marketing/presentation. If it’s billed as a social event, I think it’s fine. If it’s billed as a “you’re a woman and therefore need to know how to make flowers for your professional advancement” then that’s a problem.

Eh my V5 in NYC had a similar event.

Omg how DARE they! OP, you sound super uptight. Take a chill pill. Women’s initiative groups schedule several types of events, some of them are more fun and some are more serious/motivational. This is a fun event. Maybe go and try to, ya know, have fun?