Is it really, office stereotype: "women who's involved in a meeting most likely are secretaries/staffs"?

Question

The thing is I go to these meetings with my bosses and a male junior staff. On other occasions, most of the meetings attendees from outside our company never see me twice but still greet the male junior staff everytime they see all of us. After several occasions, I started to think they must've thought of me be less important and need not bother to greet than my male junior staff just because i'm a woman. Really, i'm curious.

Answer 1

In general, most people still assume that the woman is the secretary or a lower subordinate regardless of whether they are in a meeting. For example, I once worked in an office where we had a male receptionist/clerk. His desk was right by the front door where he could greet visitors and clients. A group of people came in and walked right pass him and started to follow me. They followed me down a hallway and around a corner until I got to my cubicle (far from the reception area) and asked if I was the secretary. Studies have shown that men and women will bypass the male receptionist or secretary to look for a woman even a woman sitting in an office!

We still have a few ways to go in equality but we're getting there.

Answer 2

Yes, I felt that way, too. Once before a meeting, I had some colleagues from other branch office asked me where the copy machine was, I pointed and they asked me if I could copy meeting material for them!

Their boss was my subordinate.

Answer 3

Maybe true - but I work in the IT helpdesk of my company and it seems like EVERYONE is in a meeting for at least 50% of their week.

Remember committees keep minutes and lose hours.

Answer 4

Um,. are not everyone in the meeting staff?

Answer 5

I TOTALKLY AGREE