Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

by Sarah Wynn-Williams

We’re almost finished with the team photos when I feel Joel staring at me. I’m standing with some of the women in our team. Joel calls out, “Sarah Wynn-Williams is looking sultry tonight.” I freeze. I’m not. In fact, it’s hard for me to think of a time in my life when I’ve looked less sultry. I’m vampirish from sleep deprivation. Up at all hours doing calls with Asia, plus a one- and three-year-old at home who don’t like sleeping. Work life and home life are punishing. I haven’t lost the weight from the second pregnancy. I’m dressed like a nun and devoid of makeup to avoid any unwanted attention from my boss. But I guess that’s not the point. This is as much about power as anything else. In fact, Sheryl later posts, The 1992 presidential race was once summed up in a pointed phrase: “It’s the economy, stupid.” Today, as headlines are dominated by stories about sexual harassment and sexual assault at work, a similar phrase comes to mind: “It’s the power, stupid.” And in this situation, I have none. I try to get as far from him as I can, and head to the middle of the dance floor. The white, libertarian Ayn Rand fanboys and Republican politics guys from the policy team are taking turns onstage with embarrassing stilted karaoke renditions of the raps from Hamilton. One of the senior women in our team comes over. “Did you hear Joel call you sultry?” she says, looking concerned. “Yeah, I’m trying to just ignore it,” I tell her, but it’s a relief to know that others can see what’s...