Pamela Parkinson Telford, a self-described "big-shouldered, big-mouthed broad," likes what she's seen during her first year as West Jordan's environmental officer.
Although the city has a way to go as far as women workers are concerned, Telford says, it's progressive in recognizing women's skills and providing opportunities for managerial jobs.Telford, an attorney, is a policymaker. She handles special projects and environmental services such as watching over engineering, building and safety personnel and working closely with staff at fires and hazardous-waste mishaps.
A huge plus, she says, is the strong support she enjoys from Public Works Director D. Robert Davis and Director of Public Safety Ken McGuire. "They were welcoming and supportive from the start," Telford said. "I'm the only woman on the senior staff, so over the past year, we've had a real battle on gender-neutral language in the workplace and on written materials that come out of here.
"They're very cognizant of how they speak now. Instead of talking about the `girls' in the office, they talk about the `women' in the office.
"To watch this kind of change come out of traditionally male bastions such as public safety and public works is inspiring."
Want more opinions? Telford laughingly admits she isn't shy about offering them.
"I think the treatment of women here is fairly traditional. I do see changes, and I think a lot of that is because they know I'm watching. I don't think that's a threat to them so much as a challenge."
The best thing about the men she works with and for is the fact that they're open-minded, she said.
"They're willing to see if there aren't some ingrained prejudices they hadn't recognized," she said. "They're open to new suggestions and to looking to see if there might be a better way to do things."
Telford said it's important for cities to be creative when trying to recruit qualified women for jobs.
Also, women can't wait for opportunities but should make things happen.
"I grab a lot of women around here by the pantyhose and say, `You will go back to school,' or `You will stop treating yourself as oppressed and be empowered to look and see what you can do and how we can get you there.' "