Women are no strangers to the potential risks that threaten their safety. Particularly alarming is the rapidity in which moments of objectification can turn into an unsafe situation. Women in the promo industry say their peers need to be aware of the hallmarks that can lead to physical risk. “Never go in blind on a sales call,” says Kate Plummer, vice president of sales & marketing at Clearmount (asi/45440). “If you’re not comfortable with someone, don’t schedule a 7 p.m. dinner. Sometimes they go on a power trip to see what they can get from you. Cornering still happens.”

Standing Strong: Women of Promo Confront Workplace Inequality

^{Vicki Clayman, president of Partners N Promotion}

Vicki Clayman, president of Partners N Promotion (asi/350153), says she always meets people in public places. “I’m responsible for myself,” she says. “Women need to be smart about their choices and the situations they put themselves in. It’s not worth it. You have to be able to walk away. If you’re uncomfortable, make your excuses and leave. Then reassess where you met and with whom you met.”

Megan Erber, sales manager at S&S Activewear (asi/84358) and a Navy veteran, is a serious proponent of personal safety – so much so that she teaches jujitsu and self-defense to women and girls in her spare time. She’s even brought her (very popular) sessions to industry events.

“I tell my students, ‘If you’ve got a bad feeling, it’s not worth it. Trust your gut,’” she says. “But sometimes we get lured into a false sense of security. I show people basic self-defense moves, and I want them to know that the worst place they can find themselves is on their backs. Now they know what to do if they find themselves in that situation.”