Most women in any business field should really be presenting themselves according to the The Woman’s Dress for Success Guide, but since it’s hard to get copies of that opus, the law firm of Clifford Chance has helpfully prepared a five-page document entitled “Presentation Tips for Women” that includes helpful suggestions like “Think Lauren Bacall, not Marilyn Monroe” and “No one heard Hillary the day she showed cleavage.”
According to Above the Law, all female associates in the United States offices of Clifford Chance were emailed this memo from a member of their “Women’s Committee.” One woman who got it said that “female associates are very upset by not only the elementary nature of the tips themselves, but the suggestion that these would only apply to women.” She’s right: some of these comments are gender neutral and therefore sort of puzzling, like the idea that JUST WOMEN should avoid alcohol or caffeinated beverages. The woman went on to say, “We have never been a very female friendly firm, but this is beyond the pale.”
What exactly constitutes beyond the pale? Comments about how a woman can make herself sound less stupid, as demonstrated through these excerpts:
“Like” You’ve got to Lose “Um” and “Uh,” “You know,” “OK,” and “Like”
Pretend you’re in moot court, not the high school cafeteria
And lots of thoughts about how to make yourself sound more masculine and serious:
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