Some of my colleagues have been spreading a story about my having had a secret affair with my boss. The evidence for this is that I sometimes tease him and do not appear to be frightened of him. I am partly amused at the stupidity of it all, but also cross at the misogyny. I am one of the more senior women here; it is depressing if colleagues believe I must have slept my way to the top. Do I laugh it off? Do I try and quash it? And if so, how? Female, 40s
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Yes, it is depressing. No one considers the success of a man to be in need of further explanation in terms of who he has slept with. This is a woman’s problem and it is a tricky one.