Women are certainly changing the dynamics of the hospitality industry locally and globally, but often chefs and restaurateurs don’t receive the recognition of their male counterparts and still face challenges in navigating the culinary world. There are still a lot of uphill challenges that females face in a male-dominated industry, said Justine May, owner of the Railroad Square Craft House. Sometimes I have to put my foot down harder and faster than a man in the same position. It’s a very male-dominated business.”
May finds that, even today, “people assume I married into this business or am dating someone who’s in the business. The stereotype still lingers, even with women.”