Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Illegal, sexist sign on Green Lanes - new sandwich bar
Not only is this offensive and condescending to women, but offensive and discriminatory against men. I spoke to someone who said he was in charge at the shop and was basically laughed at.
Please can every man who reads this ring them and apply for the job? There's also solicitors a few doors up who will help you sue them.
In all seriousness though, this and the leering and catcalling on the Harringay part of Green Lanes must make it the most sexist street in Britain. It's 2015, about time this was stamped out for good.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lauren on
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Not really. I started a discussion on here about it some time ago, I don't remember when but maybe last year? I usually also mention it every time I talk about how bloody awful it is to be a woman walking down Green Lanes and enduring constant abuse for doing nothing other than walking home most days. Every time I get off the bus at Mattison Rd and see those poor women penned up in the window my heart sinks. You must have read my previous posts, but thanks for mentioning it in this discussion. I'm glad more people are taking notice, and it's not just me. The more this issue is talked about the more chance we have of improving things for everyone concerned.
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I see that a workbench has recently been installed in the one by the bus stop so that they can sit at it on chairs and work, rather than on the floor or on upturned buckets unable to stretch their legs. It's still not a compliant height for working and I'm still still not happy about the penning in or the gas stove being near the exit to the pen, but it is a slight improvement. Hopefully they will be making the rest of the necessary changes soon.
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Permalink Reply by Ruth on
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One problem that might arise here is (I'm hypothesising…) that these women might not want to complain, that they will say they are happy in their work and would rather be there than not work?
They may be relatives of those who run the restaurants? (Mothers, grandmothers etc..) As I said, I do not know but this has happened elsewhere in the country, in the world really….. I haven't done research on this but just flagging this up as a potential thing to address.
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oh, You are right, I have no doubt about it! And I'm sure there are people of whatever sex/gender who endure worse in many other places. My point is that in this day and age it should not be happening or be tolerated anywhere, least of all in a window, in full view of this community. My concerns are for their safety or risk of dvt from not being able to move, stretch or maintain correct posture. I've also seen two of them cramped in next to the skillet and the heat is horrendous, they are clearly hot and uncomfortable most times I see them. If one of them were to get burnt or have an accident there's no room to move or escape quickly. I don't see why they have to sit on the floor and do it. The spaces could be adapted to accommodate standing space and a workbench or counter, it could be done with dignity, without the air of oppression and suffering. I also don't see anywhere for them to wash their hands, so they can't be doing it. My other point also being that the men don't have to endure these conditions. You never see men doing it, always women of a certain age, as though they have been assigned that role and must suffer. Why won't the owners give them decent and safe working conditions? Some of them don't even have proper stools just upturned buckets and boxes, in one of the shops the lady sits on an old fruit crate with a bit of old carpet on top. Meanwhile the men are out on the streets leaning on their Mercedes and BMWs leering at schoolgirls. I'm sick of seeing it.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh D on
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There are some amazing assumptions being made about the women who sit in the windows making gozleme.
I've never seen this as any different to restaurants that have open kitchens displaying the chefs at work myself, and regularly buy from two places that use this system. The women always chat and seem very proud of their food.
I may, of course, be wrong and they may be terribly exploited. However, surely one of the principle belefes of both feminism and anti-racism has to be the right for individuals to express their own concerns and portray reality as they see it.
And unless you've actualy spoken to these women and heard from them them that they have the concerns you assume they should have, it's a kind of cultural arrogance and imposition to state how you think they should see their lives, surely?
I suspect they work hard, as do many of the men in the cafes in restaurants. They may well be underpaid, as are plenty of the guys to. The reason men may not be sitting there doing this work is because these women are experts and have been doing this for years. It may also, be, of course, that they're co-owners, very proud of what they do and happy to be seen at work. Unless we hear from them, we can't know, can we?
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You are right. But there are laws about safety and conditions at work. That's chiefly my concern. maybe you are right and they don't mind working in unsafe conditions. Maybe they don't know that there are laws against this kind of thing. Maybe they don't realise they're being treated unreasonably at work. Should we just say nothing? its the crouching down on the floor in a little pen in the window that grinds my gears. They shouldn't be working like that. It's horrible. I doubt the women would choose to work like that, the men certainly don't. as far as I know and correct me if I'm wrong, but these places are owned and run by men. Women are being forced to work like that. Whether they like it or not is not the issue.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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I'd much rather work in the window of a shop on Green Lanes than an office building in Slough.
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I'd quite like to organise some sort of postering campaign/leaflet drop to businesses on Green Lanes, maybe even a march/demo. I've never done anything like this before though, wouldn't really know where to start.
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Most of us will also recall this discussion a while ago...
http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/homophobia?commentId=84...
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Permalink Reply by HoL Site Admin on
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The following email was received this morning from the owner of the new juice bar:
Dear Hugh,
I have been asked to look at the forum on the website about the sign which was displayed on the window by one of the chefs.
I understand that a lady came to the shop on Thursday 5 November in the evening where there were builders and pointed out about the display. I was not made aware of this until late that evening on 5 November and as soon as I was informed I have taken out the display from the window. it is unfortunate that the chef had put the display without us knowing and this caused understandable upset to the lady who pointed out this to the builders. I apologise for the incident unreservedly on behalf of the builders and the chef to the lady in question and all the members of the public and members of the HoL who were rightly upset about this.
I am aware that it is against the law of equality and employment to display or engage in practices as such. I already employ over 20 people in the Solicitors’ office and more than half of those are hardworking and dedicated women. This includes 4 female qualified solicitors against 3 qualified male solicitors.
Yours sincerely,
Murat Kinas
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Thanks for posting Murat's apology. Please tell him thanks when you see him.
I spoke to someone who said he was the manager of the business. I don't know who the lady who the builders spoke to was. It's great that it's not just me who has complained though!
It's good that the owner has apologised. I didn't know he was the same person who ran the solicitors, but as this means he is in a good position to educate his staff on equal opportunities and employment law, perhaps he could offer guidance to other businesses in the street and educate the traders association?
Yes it puts a new light on the ownership of the cafe, but treatment of women is still a major issue in this street and still needs addressing. The fact that this sign went up in the first place shows that. It's brilliant that this business will now be employing both men and women equally because of this discussion. One down, but many, many more to go!
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