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  The Power of Our Influence

FireGirl


 
 
Woman in a MAN'S world
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on Apr 12, 2007 (Read 1603 times | Comments: 15)
I belong to a local fire department and know exactly what it feels like to be in a man's world. Things are improving but it has taken a lot of sticking up for myself and other women pulling together to improve things. I won a seat in the Board of Directors and making new policies to make it easier for other women to participate. What kinds of jobs or volunteer work do some of the other women on this site do?
urbanchick
urbanchick
on Apr 12, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

Kudos to you that you are doing work to improve things for women working in a man's world. I am in marketing so it's mostly women in the lower rungs but in the exec rungs it's still men. Volunteer work I do mostly with children. I think things are getting better but we have a long way to go, in all industries!
mamaduck43
mamaduck43
on Apr 17, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

I worked for a tour bus company for 15 years, eventually training new drivers for their CDL licenses in the classroom and on the road.... I had to prove my abilities and knowledge over and over again and dealt with discrimination and sexual harassment on a daily basis.... I have a great deal of self-respect, and eventually earned the respect of others.... It did bother me, however, that I had to work long and hard to achieve what was freely given to my male counterparts.... People can talk all they want about how we have achieved parity and equality, but, unfortunately, that is still not the case... It is better, but still not 'right'......
toreeves
toreeves
on Apr 19, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

I work in the computer industry so I too know what it feels like to work in a man's world. It's hard to be heard sometimes so I'm happy to know that someone out there wants to hear what I have to say.
didama
didama
on Apr 19, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

They should care about what we have to say!
Shelle02
Shelle02
on Apr 21, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

I grew up working on cars with my father and 5 brothers. I eventually went to school to become a mechanic. While I was in school I also became a volunteer firefighter. I was the first female figherfighter that the area ever had. I was very proud of that. Currently I am a stay at home mom but I would love to go back to either field one day. It was hard to break into both fields...always had to prove you can do the job just as good if not better then the guys. Kudos to all the women out there that continue to prove yourselves in a Man's World!
Anastasis
Anastasis
on Apr 27, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

Oh man - do I ever hear you. I'm a medical student and probably one of the brighter people in my class but that doesn't stop some of the older attendings from treating me like a silly girl.

But I love medicine and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. When my father was in med school, 40 yrs ago, there were only 4 women in his class of 150 people. My class is almost 50/50 - things are changing in modern medicine and I am very thankful to the women that came before me.
sballow
sballow
on May 18, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

I studied Bionmedical and Mechanical Engineering in college. I had some classes with 60 people, but only 3 girls. I personally was not the object of much discrimination in school b/c most of my professors were very professional and I and the other 2 girls in my classes all had the highest GPA's. :)

There was one class that I felt a bit out of plabce in...my Machine Lab class. There were 15 people, I was the only girl, and the instructor was ancient and not girl-friendly. But to his credit, some of the equipment in that class was quite heavy (I needed some help with pouring my casting), and not growing up with any shop experience whatsoever did leave me at a small disadvantage with some of the other guys...I could see his point at least.

I never had the chance to work as an Engineer, but my husband is one and there are several young women in his office. I have no idea what their salaries are comapared to his, and they don't seem quite as "in love" with the job, nor as skilled, so I'm not even sure if the comparison of salaries would be accurate.

I will say this though...and maybe it's out of place and contrary to everything that I should believe in, but I do appreciate that I can bat an eyelash and get a man to drop everything be at my service. I think that may be one of a woman's advantages -- we can climb to the top of any ladder, but if we need to be vulnerable, we can. Men don't have that luxury.
Seismo07
Seismo07
on Dec 11, 2007 Quote  »     Reply  »

I worked as an Emergency Medical Technician in the 80's and there was one crotchety old man working in the office that was very vocal against women in that field. I now work as an EMT for the local fire department here in NE Washington, and they could care less if you're male or female. They take any volunteers they can get! I've never heard a single derogatory statement against females in the department. I also drive a school bus and it is the same in the school district. Maybe it's because it's so hard to find anyone for these jobs here :)
sd7255
sd7255
on Feb 16, 2008 Quote  »     Reply  »

I am new to this site and I know these are old posts but I am also in the same situation. I have driven ammo and explosives for 4 yrs OTR double drop, step, and flatbed. I had to become a local driver due to the loss of my live in care for my disabled adult son. As a 53 yr old woman I can tell you that it is very difficult to be taken seriously in a man's work arena. A woman is just not wanted in the mix either because they figure you are not strong enough and will have a work related injury or file a sexual harrasment suit. Qualifications are not even looked at. It is like we are still in the dark ages.
cenmad
cenmad
on Mar 05, 2008 Quote  »     Reply  »

I'm a research director in corporate America, and usually the only female in a roomful of middle-aged men. Yes, it's not uncommon to be dismissed or condescended to (or hit on), but the way I figure it, it's their loss. The ones who are smart enough to recognize talent, intelligence, and competence -- whatever the package -- will be the ones I develop professional relationships with, and we'll both benefit. To heck with the others -- life's too short to let them get in my way.
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