Related Posts
Conversation Starter
Conversation Starter
Conversation Starter
Conversation Starter
Additional Posts in Engineering
Engineering influencers to follow?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
I’m a woman engineer and I’m conservative (how’s that for diverse?!). I’m confident and good at what I do. It’s important to note that every individual has their own unique strengths and qualities regardless of being man, woman, tall, short, you name it. I know I’m not the best at everything but I’m really good at certain things and know when to lean into others for support in other areas. It’s ok that we all have different strengths…this is what makes a solid team. It’s understanding our strengths that’s important. I’ve been in my career for 15 years now and still haven’t experienced sexism. I treat everyone like they’re my friends and they do the same to me. I show up and do my best and take pride in my good work. I’ve always been hired based on my own merits. I see myself as a leader-by-example for the team and treat others the way I want to be treated. I will never let the government get in the way of how I feel about myself and my contributions, no matter which side of the aisle it is. I don’t need the government to tell an employer they have to hire me because I’m a woman (I won’t be minimized to just a gender, I’ve done so much more than that). I stand out because of my achievements, contributions and work ethic, which is how it should be. Honestly I think gender and race should be removed from job applications. Who cares what people are?! Hire based off their merits.
Perfect response.
No need to worry about soft sexism in this era. It's going to be full-blown sexism out in the open and codified into law to whatever extent it can be. The whole point of his executive order knocking down the one from 1965 is that his crew believes it's white men who are the real victims of discrimination. It'll be interesting when his followers can't blame their failures on women and minorities.
Can you define "soft sexism"? Lol it sounds a bit weird. I think that there are often some unconscious biases that play out in subtle ways. But I also think that people need to give each other a little more grace these days. I know that even if one of my coworkers says something that could be read that way, I know his character and how he respects me as a colleague so I don't need to read into it. It really is that simple sometimes
Soft sexism is the assumption you can’t handle the same work loads as your male counterparts, or that you are passed up for promotion and a man with less experience and years gets one over you. It’s when you are given lesser projects that are not seen as significant in capital…are some examples. Yet still receiving above average performance reviews year after year.
How would the executive orders Trump is signing play a role in increased sexism at work? I’m completely confused. 🤔
I would say that people tend to conform to the environment around them. If the dominant cultural sentiment is that diversity is a strength and people are created equal, then people’s behavior will reflect that. At the very least, people won’t draw attention to themselves by being openly against it lest they be ostracized.
Cultural shifts happen all the time though and powerful people and powerful institutions have a lot of influence on the direction those shifts take. It is not necessary to legislate cultural shifts into existence, all you really need is to signal tolerance toward a certain way of thinking for people to start latching on and conforming to it.
Periods of progress being followed by periods of regression are a tale as old as time. So I think it is misguided to suggest that cultural sentiments from back in the day can’t take hold again. As the adage goes: “history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes”.
Being a women in engineering is the golden ticket.
Stop complaining
Not sure about your company but generally speaking I find that engineering teams (a team of engineers including managers) are pretty oblivious about gender and directly about work distribution.
If asked to take on admin tasks (male or female), just say 'no'. And redirect the juniors to do it on the spot.
You are trying to shift a paradigm so hold your ground!
I have dealt with this many times in my career. Thankfully I have not dealt with it at this current company but many times before here i had. i really hope that it doesn't get worse but I have to admit, I am fearful where things are headed in this country.
Rising Star
I feel like the women at my company are actually treated with more respect than other males. Other than the few sexist guys that you can see immediately.
I have not dealt with it personally at my company (been working full time there for a little over 10 years now). But I have always been and continue to be a high achiever who keeps my head down and does my job to the best of my ability.
I am not naive enough to think that it does not exist or it can’t get worse though. Even within this thread of posts replying to the author, there are two particularly sexist takes that stand out.
People with those beliefs will always exist, how accepted those beliefs are in culture writ large varies with time.
Be demonstrating your value you won’t be so effective about the executive order. Also, by exercising healthy boundaries you will exemplify your self-respect and other people will be more inclined to honor that.
I've never dealt with it ( that I know of)
The ME TOO movement has men at my job damn near afraid to speak to women or do anything that might even remotely reflect sexism.