When you think of sisterhood, a restaurant kitchen probably isnt what comes to mind.
This inequality means kitchens can be isolating spaces if you dont fit a certain mould.
Take Eater Londons 2021 report into gender inequality in Londons restaurant industry.
It found thatwomen chefs use words like abuse and traumato describe their workplace experiences.
Clearly, many restaurant kitchens could use a stronger sense of sisterhood and community.
Thankfully there are initiatives helping to provide this,likeJunior Bake Offhost Ravneet GillsCounter Talkand#FairKitchens.
Rumbol, 31, has worked in hospitality for 12 years and as a chef for eight.
In her experience, kitchens run by women are more collaborative and supportive.
Whereas in kitchens run by women, it was much more let’s do this together.
You bring your whole self.
It’s not about splitting yourself up into personal and professional.
It’s much more liberating than that.
And nobody that really looked like me, as a woman who looks more masculine, she notes.
So, in March 2021, she set upQFABto celebrate and connect queer people in the industry.
Running the platform has made Rumbol keenly aware that male-dominated kitchens can be especially marginalising for some.
I’ve noticed it’s a difficult environment for the trans community and non-binary community to be open in.
You might love food.
Its a struggle for me to even find those voices as somebody who’s literally searching for them.
Rumbol is clear that no one should have to endure macho, toxic workplaces.
There are other options.
It’s because of that people are actually more likely to be able to build their own life.
A lot of female-run catering companies want other women in them.
It suits mums coming back to work, it suits all kinds of different lifestyles.
For those struggling to find that sense of sisterhood and community within restaurants, Rumbol can relate.
This was definitely me at a certain point.
Her advice to others is simply dont stay in spaces that dont serve you.
There’s plenty of places like that.
It just requires a little bit more research.
As for where to do that research, she recommends social media.
Look at female chefs who run places, have a look on their Instagram.
And when you go to an interview, remember you have power too.
Ask questions about culture, she suggests.
When all else fails?
Go with your gut.
When you walk into a kitchen, you see the demographic.
Listen to your intuition.
This is also where her own Instagram community comes in.
Rumbol recommendsQFAB as a resourcefor finding a queer-friendly workplace in hospitality.
you might message them and ask them.
They’ve got jobs, there are jobs out there, she says.
She tells me:Sisterhood is really important to uplift each other.
There is no scarcity.
This whole idea that you’ve got to push each other down to make it progress is so outdated.
