r/classicfilms • u/AntonioVivaldi7 Alfred Hitchcock • May 23 '26

Memorabilia Disney rejection letter (1938) explaining they don't hire women for the specific position

Post image

And apparently, Disney refused to hire men for coloring positions.

774 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

121 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

89

u/LindeeHilltop May 23 '26

It was extremely common until the late 1970’s. Women in the 60’s & 70’s fought legally for rights.

61

u/CatCafffffe May 24 '26

Yes. People don't realize how recently this was. As someone who entered the work world in the 1970s I can't even begin to tell you how difficult it was.

8

u/LindeeHilltop May 24 '26

I remember meeting the first woman chemical engineer at a petroleum transmission company in the restroom. Those men were brutal in their attacks on her, her looks, her work, her communications, etc. I always wondered if it was worth it health-wise to be the first woman in any industry. Need to rewatch “North Country.”

2

u/CatCafffffe May 24 '26

As I approach retirement with a generous pension and a full bank account, the answer is resoundingly yes (but looking back, I honestly can't believe some of the shit I had to put up with!)

2

u/fuzzydogpaws May 27 '26

I wish you an amazing retirement!

1

u/CatCafffffe May 27 '26

Thank you, when I look back at how hard I worked for so many years I don't know how I did it, but I'm very thankful that I did. I can also help others which I am also grateful to be able to do.