Kenyan women and likeability in the workplace: 'I felt an unspoken pressure to smile'

Is the pressure to be likeable holding women back at work?

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It had started pleasantly enough. Faith, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, had dutifully laughed along at the bad jokes made by her bosses.

But then a senior colleague made a suggestion that she felt would not work practically. But before Faith could express her opinion, her colleague mentioned her name.

"And Faith agrees with me!" The others in the meeting room turned to face her as her colleague added: "You agree, don't you?"

Faith did not agree, but felt under pressure: "I didn't want to be seen as difficult or moody.