[maymie]

I work in a small room of women and I am realizing that is not a good thing. Everyone talks bad about each other. Everyone is emotional. For the last 3 weeks I have basically been ignored by everyone in the office. They talk to each other but not me. First I was accused of being the boss' favorite so they all ignored me because of that. The second reason they ignored me is because they all got mad because I was learning new things and they weren't. But the only reason they weren't learning new things is because they didn't want to...every time our boss tried to they all refused to learn but yet they want to be mad at me because I'm learning new things. The third reason they all ignore me is because I stopped giving them food and paying for their meals. For instance they ask me to go get them food while I'm on lunch, share my food, or out right buy them food but they never give me lunch, pay me back, or share their food. The last reason is that they seem to think that because I have no children or a significant other that what I say doesn't matter. For instance I can't give my opinion on education because I don't have children and I'm not effected by it. I can't give my opinion on whether a teacher is right or wrong on something because I have no children. I can't say what I think about marriage because I'm not married. Needless to say I hate the job. I've been here for 2 years in August and I hate my job. How do I deal with this?

[rumblingal]

Women are evil. None of the reasons are why they are ignoring you. They ignore you because you are obviously living a good life and they don't like being reminded that there are good things to talk about instead of doom and gloom. If it is affecting your work, I would look for a different job. I am sure your boss knows what they are doing. That can't be a motivating work environment.

[Skeezyks]

Hello maymie: Really, there may not be much you can do here other than focus on your work & ignore them right back. (Plus look for another job if that is a possibility for you.) Beyond that you'll have to find opportunities for socialization & support outside of work since you're clearly not going to be getting any from your co-workers, sad to say.

Depending on your relationship with your boss, you could consider talking with your boss about what is going on. This might not even be a bad idea because you probably don't know how the harassment you're enduring is affecting how you're being perceived by those above you. But, of course, doing this could have a number of negative consequences as well. It could make your co-workers even more sour than they already are (if that's possible!) Depending on how you handled it, it could also be taken wrong by your boss. You'd have to handle it carefully. On the other hand, simply allowing things to continue to fester may be simply inviting further trouble. A more affirmative approach may, in the end, be for the best. This is a difficult situation. I wish you well...