Customer service and women’s equality: A live-tweet thread

I knew it would be difficult to carry on a live tweet but I had no idea it would be so difficult to get the story started.

I find it frustrating how many companies and organizations communicate with the men on their accounts over the women in a world where we are supposed to be progressive. (Follow this thread for more ranting) #EXSM3989 #EverydaySexism

— Jen Annau (@JenAnnau) November 8, 2021

Picking the topic was the hardest part and then it just started to happen. For this tweet thread, today I had just had a conversation with our condo board as a result of being excluded in the communication regarding my parking spot. The condo board had contacted my sweetheart who is not on the document for the parking spot, but who does share all other documentation on our place.

I wrote an outline with a:

Beginning: The condo board contact my sweetheart instead of me

Middle: This is a recurring situation for women with shared accounts, especially for finance, car and home situations.

and

End: A solution for companies to have better communication and a call-out for ending practices that contribute to the inequality of their women customers.

Then the comments and life helped the story evolve and I was able to incorporate those into it. It made the story more dynamic as it went on and helped support the story’s spine.

Yep! Trying to deal with our phone company- both our names on the mortgage, house everything. Every single bill comes from my account. Absolutely would not tell me anything about our account when I called.

— Suzanne Pescod (@SuzannePescod) November 9, 2021

Every day: many organizations do not communicate with women who are on shared accounts

But one day: an organization did that to me and I got frustrated

Because of that: I am raising awareness of the issue

Because of that: Women are left out of important decision making in the household

Because of that: Women spend lots of time dealing with a problem they shouldn’t have

Because of that: Equality is not where it could be

Because of that: Customer service systems need to change

Until finally: A solution and a suggestion to fix the problem is made

And ever since then: We hope that companies will do better and my rant is done

https://twitter.com/SusanAnnau/status/1457875455877398529?s=20

OMG. I just received a call from a research firm on behalf of a service I use. The sweetheart is the secondary person on that account. Guess who they asked for? Not me, that's who. Yes, I did the survey. #EXSM3989 #EverydaySexisim

— Jen Annau (@JenAnnau) November 9, 2021

It was interesting how real life was able to change and add to the story as it was occurring. The phone call from the research firm gave me a fresh example to show how prevalent the issue is and added a bit of excitement.