If you're a woman who talks, you've been talked over. Run over in meetings, primarily by men, whose culture perpetuates mutual interruption as a form of non-verbal communication. Ignored, only to have your comment repeated.
Tuesday, the whole country was treated to this scenario in full glaring color, live from the White House on national television. Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the House of Representatives and arguably the most powerful woman in the country, had to fight Male-Pattern Balderdash.
We as a nation expect this from President Donald Trump. But where were Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Chuck Schumer? They were in the room, and they are each in their own way champions of women. Pence styles himself as a throwback to the chivalrous mythical past. As a progressive, Schumer presumably considers himself a standard-bearer for gender equality.
Each had an opportunity to say, "Let Ms. Pelosi finish," or "Excuse me, Ms. Pelosi needs to complete her thought."
Neither stepped in.
I now advocate for others who are anonymized in real time, both women and men. It would have been a moment of national relief and respect had Pence, Schumer or both done the same for Pelosi.
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Joanne Cleaver is a communication consultant who lives near Traverse City, Mich.
Editorial on 12/16/2018