As some may know, I am the General Manager of an electric radiant floor heating company. This puts me in at least two positions where I am in the man's world, which is great to me. After all, I love men, and they respond fairly well to me for the most part and of course, I love my job and absolutely adore everything about my company and coworkers. The job, itself, is fabulous because I am able to wear so many hats and of course work with a product line that I truly believe in. While the parent company is an International company with a presence all over the world, I was fortunate enough to start out at the corporate office in the US before we even had office chairs.
Now, before this is flagged as spam, I will get to my point
In wearing so many hats, I find it funny how many men react in the field to a little blonde girl using technical jargon and in a roll with some responsibility beyond fielding phone calls and making copies for someone else. While at trade shows and such, it seems to work to my benefit, there are times when someone will call up and ask repeatedly to speak to someone who can answer technical questions.'
Well, that would be me. I have been here from the beginning and actually helped to develop some of the installation methodology and work out electrical solutions, etc. I won't bore you with all of the details
Now, I really didn't think it was because I was a woman for a long time and just took it as they were asking to make sure they were in the right place but there was one man the other day, who made me rethink this a bit.
This was a lovely gentleman, who calls me up, talks to me about the weather, grandkids, and all kinds of other small talk. However, he would not believe that I could answer his technical questions. He refused to even ask until I told him to just give it a try. I promised that I would be happy to find someone else to talk with him if I could not answer all of his questions thoroughly.
So, he finally asks his questions. Granted, they were fairly involved but nothing I hadn't heard and answered many times in the five years I have been with the company. I, then, amaze him with my intelligence and ability to answer all of his questions so thoroughly. At this, he decides we are the company to use. Yes! This is my goal, of course
But then, he asks me, " So, are you the secretary or I mean, administrative assistant to the Technical Manager or something? "
" No sir, I am the General Manager, " I reply.
" What?! Really? "
" Yes, sir ", I reply.
" Well, I've never heard of a woman being in a job like that! I bet your dad is really proud of you. "
Wow, really? I know I am not the only one who has encountered this. I started to think back at that point and realized how many times that has happened to me, but I had no idea it was happening because they never just came out and said it.
So, I have to ask, are we really in a world where it is hard to believe that a woman can work in the construction industry, a technical field , and/or management ? I mean, really? The last time I checked, a woman was Speaker of the House', and one even came pretty close to being President of the United States of America'.
Of course, I had the same problem when I was working in IT, and my adorable little sister, who just loves doing residential plumbing seems to have a dickens of a time being taken seriously.
I know that many people do not even realize that they are doing it, and I am sure that the gentleman with whom I had spoken thought he was complimenting me. Wouldn't it be nice, though, if we lived in a world where we were judged on our merits and abilities and not on stereotypes?
Note: There are many, many men, women, and I'm sure transsexuals, who have had the utmost confidence in my abilities and I am sure that many of you have encountered the same. With some work on all of our parts, maybe we can increase those numbers and eliminate the others.
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