Williams is right – women are penalised for being passionate, and direct. Research undertaken by three European business schools, and published in The Atlantic, found that assertiveness and confidence in women did little to advance their careers. Meanwhile, assertiveness in men led to greater influence in the workplace.

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But as women we’re in a double-bind here, because if we question, or God forbid, complain about how we’re treated, we know in our bones we’re only going to make it worse. To know that you’ll be punished more for alerting someone to the problem, while the real problem is ignored, is more commonly known as gaslighting.

“When you, as a woman, are being gaslit in the workplace, you may be told that you are being aggressive or pushy by speaking up” says Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, a psychotherapist who specialises in emotional manipulation.

“You are less likely to speak out again because of the possible repercussions. However, you may see men in your office speaking up, and they are praised for their leadership skills. This double-standard encourages gaslighters to continue their inappropriate behaviour.”

The same month that Williams was accused of being unprofessional, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, while defending himself against an accusation of sexual assault in front of the Judiciary Committee, appeared wild with fury. The New York Times called it a “spectacle” but President Trump tweeted that it was “powerful” and ultimately, Kavanaugh went on to fulfil the position of Supreme Court Judge.

Meanwhile, Christine Blasey-Ford received death threats for coming forward in the first place.
Dr. Ford is one of many women in this era of #MeToo who have been punished for raising the issue, while the accused walks free.

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Williams felt so terrible about defending herself she wrote a letter apologising to her opponent, Naomi Osaka, who she maintains won fair and square. It was only when Osaka wrote back, saying "No one has stood up for themselves the way you have and you need to continue trailblazing” that Williams says she could finally grapple with the moment in systemic terms, and not take it so personally.

And this is what so many women learn: don’t take it to heart, keep your head down, mouth shut. Consider that when Julie Bishop, former deputy of the Liberal Party, began to lift the lid on what she considered bullying within her party, it was only after she had resigned.

Who knows what might have happened if she spoke up on her way up. Because, for women in the workplace, there’s another factor equally as urgent as reputation – and that’s income.

When Gretchen Carlson complained to her supervisor at Fox News in 2009 about chairman and CEO Roger Ailes’ continued sexual harassment – after ignoring it for four years – Carlson says she was told by Ailes she needed to “get along with the boys” and was quietly demoted.

As Williams herself says, the battles fought by her, though hard, will make it easier for those who come after.

“Much of the gender wage gap remains unexplained by differences in men and women’s skill, tenure, experience or by industry specific characteristics,” says Irma Mooi-Reci, a professor of sociology at the University of Melbourne who studies employment and inequality. And while she admits the data in Australia is scant on this issue, she does concede that sexist attitudes could be part of it.

“Stereotypical performance expectations about men's and women's future productive capabilities, work commitment and competing demands of family life could be sources driving this differential treatment.”

It’s a depressing thought – that women are already being penalised, but stand to be punished further for addressing the very fact of being discriminated against. But as Williams herself says, the battles fought by her, though hard, will make it easier for those who come after. Those who doubt this should look to the US Women’s Soccer Team, who, having won on the field, now stand to only gain for raising the issue of income disparity. Let’s hope they follow through.