Did you ever had problems at work, in your career, in your studies because you were a woman?

Question

Teachers, professors, co-workers, bosses: have they ever made you feel lessened because you were a woman?
If so how?

Answer 1

Yeah, all of the male pilots in my unit in the Air Force. They say I'll freak out the first time something goes wrong and ruin a multi-million dollar aircraft becase I'm a female, and that they can out-fly me. Then I go kick their a$$es all over the airspace.

Answer 2

At three different jobs a man tried to kiss me, then started spreading rumors about me being promiscuous. Had to leave the job the first time this happened. This was in the old days before sexual harrassment was acknowledged, and I kept quiet. On one occasion it was my boss, but somehow we became lifelong buddies.

Oh, I was young, so I felt powerful in a way, but I wasn't taken seriously as an employee. I actually felt like it was the men who were sleazy.

Interesting and terrible that a good deal of my feelings were that it was somehow my fault. And I'm sure that's what the men felt about me.

Other than these inividual cads, I have always been accepted and respected by my male co-workers, teachers, etc. We work in a profession of close cooperation, and have nothing but admiration for each other. I am a musician.

My harrassment took place early on, when I was working clerical jobs while I rose up the orchestra ladder. I have vowed never to work in an office or in retail again.

Answer 3

I had a male boss who screamed at me whenever he wanted, he was a recovering alcoholic. I ended up with migraines and eventually was offered another job. That was great til this red-headed snot became my supervisor, now there is a law against creating a hostile work enviornment. I have a bachelor's degree and all my professors treated me with great respect, as a matter of fact my psych prof and I still write after 22 yrs. My co-workers were such good friends when my dad died they all came-we hadn't seen each other in 10 yrs.

Answer 4

Yes! In my last profession, I was an assistant to a few engineers. Most of them were men and most of the vendors we worked with were men. I changed my dress (baggy and boring), my makeup (none), and how I spoke with others (more short and to the point). I was taken seriously and thought of as the go-to girl. The other women who dressed nicely everyday with all the bells and whistles - they are pretty enough to answer the phones and set up the coffee - not my words. If I work at the family restaurant, I dress up, wear makeup and do my hair. Better tips and I've never had an issue with being thought of as stupid. Still goes on today I'm sure. I've had to fight to be taken seriously and it always feels like I have to prove that I can do it, but a man can do it until he proves he can't. Just my feeling - I'm sure this isn't the case everywhere.

Answer 5

I believe that their is a misconception between false self-esteem and bias towards female employees. Yes, there are coworkers/bosses who make active sexual passes, which is unacceptable.

I, for example, have worked in IT at the university for a while now. If I help a student or staff member, I talk in very basic terms until I know they understand enough to talk higher level "stuff" with them. This is not because I think I'm their better, there is just no use wasting my time talking about the servers, clients and what not while they smile friendly and nod with that "WTF did he just say" look.

Moreso with the Engineering example given above, we are extremely egotistical. Why? Because we spend 4 years of our lives striving to pass our courses, while the university fails 60% of the people who get admitted. This creates a very elitist environment, that extends to other aspects of life.

Answer 6

The company that I work for is run by a women and owned by a women also. It seems that sometimes men in this business fell like they are ahead of us or smarter or can do the job better. It does not require any physical strength but it takes alot from upstairs. It is frustrating but day by day we show them how well our company of 11 years is doing. Sometimes we underbid slightly just to get the bid and show them off!

Answer 7

Yes I had problems...No - they did not make me feel 'lessened' - no one can do that to me - I know better

What happened? My no-cancel clause contract was canceled after I refused to sleep with my boss...I filed an EEO complaint then a Human Rights complaint and then hired a lawyer...I won the case based on sexual harrassment/discrimination and fraudulent claims

Answer 8

Generally, no. Only once in my life did anything like that happen to me. In my profession you have to meet with various producers and directors and casting directors; that's work. (Of course it's legitimate.)
I got a call from a friend for the first time in a long time - he was jealous of me because I was simply doing well at work. He said to me "word is that you've been meeting with various directors and producers.... Ladies shouldn't do that." Tsk tsk.

I blocked his calls. How dare he try to marginalize my success because of my sex - he wouldn't have said such a thing if I were a man.

Answer 9

Im a man and all my collegues are women and they make it difficult for me, they lowered my self esteem, any mistakes I make they joke about it and say men are useless. Its very hard working with 8 women at anyone time, you cant really speak to any of them personally coz they all backbite and conspire amongst each other.

I dont know but do you feel like this as a women working with a lot of men

Answer 10

in the real international the sole people who hate black females are in simple terms racist. once you notice questions like that this is in simple terms perfect to forget approximately them because of the fact they are trolling. the first public of the international has moved on when you consider that 1860 so don't be unhappy:)