The CEO at a game design company decorated his office with a large poster of a female character posed as Rosie-the-Riveter in sexy attire. A woman data scientist who liked a lot of other things about her job but loathed this picture finally thought of a way to make her point. She got an artist to do a parody with a male “Brosie-the-Riveter” and one morning before the boss arrived hung it in place of the original.

I stood in the entryway, dizzy with joy. It was glorious. There Brosie stood, proud, nipples testing the air like young gophers in springtime, the post-apocalyptic breeze gently swaying his banana hammock. Brosie said, loud and proud: “Get ready, world! I am here to lubricate your joints and tighten your socket.”

Surprisingly, the boss not only got the message, he accepted the implicit criticism.

This story has become the second most popular post ever at The Hawkeye Initiative. It’s a powerful example of using the Hawkeye Test to instigate change in the workplace.  

The Hawkeye Test says:

If your female character can be replaced by Hawkeye in the same pose without looking silly or stupid, then it’s acceptable and probably non sexist. If you can’t, then just forget about it.

[Thanks to James Bacon for the story.]