Women of Bethlehem Steel - Bernadette Misero

Annotation Bernadette Misero worked as an escort for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in the early 1970s. Her primary role as an escort was to create a favorable first impression for visitors and clients who had appointments at the office; as such, she greeted visitors, operated the elevators, and guided visitors to their appointments in the inner offices. In her interview, she shares the rigid expectations placed upon escorts, which included specific personal hygiene and dress regulations. Since the company provided escorts with expensive clothing and jewelry, escorts were expected to maintain their clothing as well as their weight. She also discusses the importance of personal presentation, including looking attractive and having a friendly demeanor. She recalls enjoying her time modeling for a trade magazine and working special events. After five years of working as an escort and being promoted to a senior escort, Misero decided to leave to pursue other educational and vocational interests. She spent some time working as a receptionist at a non-profit and later owned her own business. She reflects on her family’s various connections to the Bethlehem Steel and their changing perceptions after the massive layoffs of the late 1970s. An oral history interview is an act of memory and hence both highly selective and highly subjective. While it accurately reflects what a narrator remembers (or chooses to tell) of his or her experience and viewpoints, it may not accurately represent what actually transpired or what another person may have experienced. As such users should subject interviews to the same degree of critical scrutiny they would any other historical source. This interview is part of a series of interviews conducted by Lehigh University and the Steelworkers’ Archives and supported by the Lehigh University Mellon Digital Humanities Initiative and the South Side Initiative.