Sexism in hospitality: The industry has spoken, but what's next?

Two weeks ago, when I read the open letter from 70 of London’s best and brightest female chefs denouncing and drawing attention to sexism in hospitality, I let out a sigh of elation. As someone who works not in the industry but adjacent to it — as a restaurant PR and writer — it’s no secret to me that some kitchens are a hotbed of sexism, harassment and offensive behaviour masqueraded as casual “banter”.

The open letter led to an outpouring on social sharing, with people applauding the chefs and telling their own stories. It prompted a rallying cry: not just from chefs, but from waitresses and kitchen workers across the country, each calling out the toxic and unwanted behaviour they’d experienced.