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Megan, chapter head of Pink Boots Society, Indianapolis
Interviewed Nov. 8, 2018
Megan, second from right.
The Pink Boots Society is meeting at a Sun King Brewery in metro Indianapolis. There’s a beer-tapping party tonight, and it’s loud. I find the table where the ladies are sitting — they chat joyfully, sipping on beers, and a few of them are working on water colors that are left of the tables for the tapping party.
As soon as everyone is there, Megan starts the meeting. She is soft spoken but gets straight to business discussing fundraising for future events, where the next meetings will be held, and what types of beer they will be brewing next.
They crack jokes as they talk while discussing plans, but never get off track.
After the meeting ends, I pull Megan aside.
Pink Boots is an international non profit that strives for education and advocating for women in the beer industry.
“We just want to make sure that women are educated in their field.”
“We just want to make sure that women are educated in their field.”
She tells me how education is a really important facet of the groups mission, and that it can be an obstacle for people who want to be more involved.
“I strive to make everyone involved and a part of the community. So everyone’s furthering each others careers.”
“I didn’t have anybody to be like, ‘oh she did that, I want to be like her!’”
Megan describes that one of the harder things about making it in the beer industry is that many times it can be a turn off if you don't see someone that you feel like you can relate to. But that didn't stop her, and now she wants to be a face for other women to look to. Megan currently works in the lab at Sun King.
“I just want to make sure that women know other women, so we can help each other out.”
I ask her how well she thinks craft beer in Indiana deals with inclusivity.
She hesitates a little.
“I think we’re pretty typical as far as craft beer goes. Middle aged, white males. People that can afford to home brew in their free time.”
It's an important point that she makes — many people that are in this industry have the time and money to make it a part of their lives.
She knows that people in craft brewing aren’t trying to close people out, but she isn’t sure how breweries can be more intentional in advertising that they actively welcome people from all walks of life.
“I dunno man...how do you market that shit?”
“We as a company are very open to anyone who works hard, and that’s all anyone can really ask. And on a normal scale, that seems like it would welcome anyone, but the beer industry is really like a 'white-dudes-with-beards' thing.”
“I feel like women can fit into the industry, but it’s just seeing other women in the industry. That’s something we try to promote: not just women helping women, but helping people in need.”
Megan wants to not only focus on empowering women in the craft beer industry, but to find a way to give back to the community whether it be through volunteering or supporting other local businesses, and helping other breweries.
“Your question or statement is valid and isn’t silly, and ‘yes we can help you over here. This is what we’ve done, and maybe you can improve upon it.’”
She makes it clear that communication is important.
“That has been probably the major thing, is helping the company understand. It’s not that they don’t want to understand, but it’s the little things. Like, we should probably have tampons and pads in the bathrooms. I brought that up to them, like, 85% of women aren’t prepared when their period comes. It’s a natural thing that should be understood.”
“Especially for myself, I’m the first female brewer, I’m the first in the lab. They made a maternity clause because I got pregnant.”
Megan also had to help the company figure out how to include a breast pumping room in the back room, when another employee of the brewery got pregnant.
“They just don’t know, man,” she laughs, “it’s an awkward conversation to have with the owner of your company, but…”
“We've really grown together.”
“We've really grown together.”
Words and photography by Christina Valdez.
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