We get together at least once a year with 3 of my friends (and their husbands) that I met almost 30 years ago when I started working in public accounting in the Big 8 firm of Coopers & Lybrand.
The year was 1986. When I joined the firm, there were 2 women in the audit department - Cheri and Barb. Cheri was married - a U of U grad. Barb was single - a BYU grad. I started in January 1986 (as an intern) together with Kristi (a recent BYU grad).
It was difficult to enter a male dominated work force. It was hard. There were things said, situations we were put in, challenges we faced every day. We often met in the woman's restroom for pep talks and therapy sessions.
Last night was one of those good therapy sessions. Our husbands still couldn't believe the "crap" we had to deal with.
I know that women today are still faced with the same issues. You see it in the news every day. I know a lot of people don't believe it or don't want to believe it happens, but it does.
I know that women have become stronger. They are more confident and even more determined to be treated as an equal.
We are still a long ways away - I see it even today with my own work situation. I like to think that what we went through in 1986 in some small way helped pave the way for other women who wanted to get an education, who wanted to have a career, who wanted to become a wife and mother.
Last night it became clear why the four of us have remained friends. We have supported each other through good times and bad. Balancing work - marriages - motherhood - becoming a widow and single mom - marriage of our children - sending missionaries out into the field - becoming grandparents - losing our own parents.
We bonded years ago and that bond is still very strong!
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