ALTERNATIVE PATH: Janelle Blakely Photopoulos, owner of Blakely Interior Design in North Kingstown, started the company to indulge her hobby of home design and décor after losing enthusiasm for her former job at a large corporation. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
After working several years for a large corporation, Janelle Blakely Photopoulos started losing interest in her job. The company was bought out and the excitement she once felt for the position diminished. Around the same time, Photopoulos became pregnant with her first child, and decided to start exploring her hobby of home design and décor.…
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It’s dismaying to see an article on a strong businesswoman who pursued a second career and second degree refer to her decision to make this momentous change as “pursuing her hobby.” Why not “her interest in” or “her passion for” or “her newfound talent in” or something less, well, insulting? It’s like her hard work is being portrayed as something she fell into rather than something she worked hard for. Is it because women decorate their homes that Mr. Sherman assumed this was a past-time of Ms. Photopoulos’ which she then decided to make into a business? I highly doubt an accomplished man in the same position would have his chosen career field designated as such. Bravo for spotlighting an immensely talented small business owner but next time, leave the sexism out of it.
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It’s dismaying to see an article on a strong businesswoman who pursued a second career and second degree refer to her decision to make this momentous change as “pursuing her hobby.” Why not “her interest in” or “her passion for” or “her newfound talent in” or something less, well, insulting? It’s like her hard work is being portrayed as something she fell into rather than something she worked hard for. Is it because women decorate their homes that Mr. Sherman assumed this was a past-time of Ms. Photopoulos’ which she then decided to make into a business? I highly doubt an accomplished man in the same position would have his chosen career field designated as such. Bravo for spotlighting an immensely talented small business owner but next time, leave the sexism out of it.