Okay. I'm not really legit jealous. More like annoyed.
Quick background:
I graduated from law school in May 2012 and spent a year in a clerkship. I started with a small law firm in July. The firm hired two new associates this spring ("Tina" and me), and we both started at roughly the same time this summer. She graduated in May 2013 and just got her bar results, so we just took firm pictures of all of the attorneys for marketing purposes.
Slightly obnoxious bragging:
This is relevant, I promise. I did well in law school, graduating near the top of my class and earning positions in the most respected law school activities--law review and moot court. I was selected for the Editorial Board of my law review, was captain of my national-award-winning moot court team, and earned other accolades. I was selected for a highly-competitive, prestigious clerkship following law school. Tina went to a smaller, less-respected law school after being denied admission to the school I went to, and though she did some impressive things in law school, she graduated in the middle third and was not selected for either law review or moot court. She did not apply for clerkships, and almost certainly did not have the resume to have been extended an offer.
My vent:
Yesterday, the photographer was taking pictures of the seven attorneys in our office. He made comments to Tina like, "It's okay to be cute," "Not all lawyers are as good-looking as you," "Let's see how you look without that jacket," etc. He also spent an incredible amount of time posing her, moving her hair. He barely said anything to me. Tina and I took a picture side by side, and he noticed that she has parted her hair on the right side. "We better put you on the left side so that everyone can see that face." And he moved her to my other side. Hey, Mr. Photographer, did you notice that my hair is parted in the exact same place as hers? Don't people want to see my face?
Okay - I get that this is creepy and sexist and I have problems with it on many levels. A large part of me is outraged that they treated her this way instead of respecting her abilities. (Though, interestingly enough, she seems to have just enjoyed the attention. That will likely change soon as she works to be taken seriously.) But for now, for this forum, I want to just say that I have seldom felt so invisible. I was the associate they hired first. My resume is the one that will bring clients into the firm who are looking for strong qualifications. I have well-earned connections in the legal field. Damn it! Look at me. Respect me. Feature me in the pictures (although, admittedly, I would be horrified about that).
Wow. Long, long post. But to an audience that hopefully understands.