What Is Unacceptable Behaviour Towards Women in Coffee? (Isabela Raposeiras) | EP1704 Part 4 of 5 | Map It Forward
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Episode Description
**CONTENT WARNING:** This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, workplace violence, psychological abuse, gender discrimination, intimidation, and harassment. Some of the experiences and situations referenced may be distressing for listeners. Please use your discretion when listening.
This is part 4 of a new 5-part series on The Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward, hosted by Lee Safar. Our guest on the podcast for this series is returning guest Isabela Raposeiras, founder of Coffee Lab in Brazil.
The theme of this series is "Being 'Not a Man' in Coffee," and in this episode, Lee and Isabela address a question they've repeatedly encountered when discussing women's experiences in the coffee industry: What exactly constitutes unacceptable behaviour?
Not all unacceptable behaviour involves physical violence or sexual harassment. Sometimes it involves interrupting women during professional conversations, dismissing their expertise, making condescending remarks, humiliating them publicly, or refusing to respect their boundaries.
Isabela shares experiences of being undermined professionally, including an encounter with a coffee producer who repeatedly interrupted her during a business discussion and a confrontation at a roasting event where her technical knowledge and experience were dismissed.
Despite decades of experience working with roasting equipment, Isabela describes being told she didn't know what she was talking about by a man who had considerably less experience with the particular machine being discussed.
Lee and Isabela examine why these interactions are unacceptable, how gender bias can influence professional discussions, and why men who witness this behaviour have an important role in challenging it.
Lee makes a direct appeal to men in the coffee industry: When you see someone being verbally attacked, dismissed, or humiliated, don't wait until afterward to offer private sympathy. Speak up while it's happening.
The conversation also explores the importance of establishing boundaries and why women should not be expected to accommodate unwanted attention, aggressive communication, or demands on their time.
Lee shares a recent experience involving a man who became verbally aggressive after she declined to arrange a telephone conversation on his terms. She uses the incident to explain why respecting someone's boundaries is not optional and why refusing a request should not invite hostility or personal attacks.
Isabela discusses how she has learned to respond to professional criticism, personal attacks, and damaging rumours by addressing people directly, sometimes using humour, empathy, and conversation to challenge their behaviour without escalating the conflict.
She also recounts being introduced publicly as a controversial or loud woman and challenging the assumptions behind those descriptions.
Throughout this episode, Lee and Isabela emphasise that disagreement is not the problem. People can challenge ideas, hold different opinions, and engage in difficult professional conversations without resorting to intimidation, humiliation, or discrimination.
The question is whether the coffee industry is prepared to recognise these behaviours, challenge them when they happen, and create professional environments where women receive the same respect and consideration as their male colleagues.
In Part 5, we'll bring the series to its conclusion by answering the question so many people ask when these issues are raised: What can we do?
Connect with Isabela Raposeiras and Coffee Lab:
Coffee Lab: https://www.instagram.com/coffeelab_br/
Isabela Raposeiras: https://www.instagram.com/isabela.raposeiras/