I’m 36f, currently work as a Salesforce Project Manager, on track to move to an architect position by the end of this year.
I’ve encountered sexism before, but fortunately not with my current employer who I’ve been with over a year now.
For other women in STEM jobs, have you encountered sexism and how did you counter it?
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I’m an architect in NYC, registered in 2 states and 15 years experience in construction. My job is very physical and hands on. In the early years of my career, I struggled with a lot of micro aggressions from men in the field: “YOU made these drawings? YOU’RE the project manager on the job? Is it just you or is your boss showing up too?” Im a NYer, I have a quick mouth and an arsenal of insults; but out of professionalism I held my tongue. Sadly I always left those encounters upset with myself, forced to eat my unspoken words.
As corny as it sounds, I think I stopped experiencing sexism (or at least giving energy to it) when I started believing in myself. Passing my exams, getting my license, certifications, and multiple letters after my name made me believe that I really am “that b****.” I think it changed the way I enter a room and how I react with people, especially men, without even realizing it.
Funny enough, the imposter syndrome is still there: I run my own firm now and I’m still shocked when people comment how I ‘command a room’ or ‘take charge’ of a situation- most times I’m just dedicated to the craft of problem solving, utilizing my experience, and just being myself. I chalk that up to 10 years spent too long in a firm that consistently underpaid and undervalued me, but thankfully those days are over.
Men tend to yell at women in my environment more than men. I am a SCM Consultant at a big hospital and doctors (especially the older ones) go crazy when under pressure with the excuse that that’s the job. I am looking forward for my contract to expire so I can leave this poophole.
Actually, and this is fucking sad, I have more trouble with senior women. They act like I don’t deserve a seat at the table or something? Like they will make snide comments and gestures and leave me off email chains I should be on. I go out of my way to kill with kindness and ignore it. Seems to work eventually – after months.
Yeah of course. I’m a civil engineer, and have been in this field over half my life. I’ve pretty much filled the “weird shit people say and do to female engineers” bingo card at this point.