Member-only story
Let’s Stop Talking About A Seat At the Table
When workplace sexism is used as a distraction from something darker
On 6 April, representatives of the European Union met with the President of Turkey, to discuss several pressing political matters. The EU representatives were Charles Michel, President of the EU Council President, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission.
But at the meeting with Recep Erdogan, President of Turkey, only one EU President got at seat at the table.
Both Presidents hold equal diplomatic rank, and both Presidents represent the EU on the world stage. Hosting the two Presidents in Ankara, Erdogan led Michel and von der Leyen into the room where the meeting was to take place, furnished with only two chairs at a ceremonial table, and flanked by two sofas situated some distance away from the table. Seemingly forgetting that von der Leyen was even in the room, Michel and Erdogan claimed the chairs at the table, relegating von der Leyen to perch on one of the sofas, facing Erdogan for the entire meeting.
The diplomatic insult was clear on many levels: in an attempt to demoralize her, von der Leyen was publicly demoted and her value as a diplomat undermined. Erdogan did not want her at the table.
