#6 Womanpower

Dear diary,

I can hardly believe that I've been working at the library for just over a week. It seems like so much longer. I really feel like I've found the perfect job for me - it's quiet, relaxed, and the workload's pretty easy. Most of the staff are friendly, and though the hierarchy seems to be fairly solid - shelvers should be seen but not heard - I talk to the other staff a bit. Uni is the universal ice-breaker.

However, one thing that's become quite apparent is that I am definitely in a minority, gender-wise. There are six women and only three of us men. And with the exception of Ernesto, the women have all the power. Talia studies politics and gender studies at uni (what'd I tell you) and she's quite an outspoken feminist. Whenever we talk the topic always winds back to the postmodernistic discourse of the womyn's revolution. I study engineering so mostly I just smile and nod with a glazed stare.

The other day I was returning to the front desk after a particularly difficult meander through Paperbacks. I saw TJ making jokes with Goldie at the front desk, then Boudecia appeared and asked TJ if he could do a request list. He responded by saying that he needed to say at the desk to check in items, but then Goldie turned to him and suggested he go do the list, her voice suddenly sour. Pepper stepped in to block his only exit, her arms crossed and a comicly stern expression on her face. They all stepped forward; TJ moved back and was up against the wall. Then he laughed, threw up his hands in defeat and grabbed a trolley. The three women watched him go, nodded in synchrony and went back to what they were doing.

I'm kinda scared they'll gang up on me like that. I talked to TJ after the incident but he just laughed nervously and went back to what he was doing. He avoided me for the rest of the shift, but as I was leaving he took me aside and whispered some advice to me:

"Just let 'em think they've got the power, kid. 'Aint nothin' they can do to you, really."

He then stood up straight, looked around quickly and ran off to hide in Large Print. Some courage. I think I'll play it safe and do what I'm told. After a few months I'll start to act more insinctively and do whatever I like... as long as they don't mind.