I went from a group that had mostly all women, of all personalities that loved to gossip to a group that has all men on it and i’m the only woman. Infrastructure support in IT and I feel like I don’t do too well around the male of the species. I don’t understand them and working with them, I don’t want to get any one of them angry with me ever!! I’m freaking out because I want to do well and be a master in the field rather than being carried. I am emotional I do hate lifting heavy hardware equipment, I don’t want to hide behind those things but they are true. I love my work and I don’t want to do anything to screw this up. I should see through the gender issue but it’s like the big elephant in the room. I told them to see me as a guy because I don’t want to be seen as different.
Let me add: It was my dream to be a part of this group in IT but I don’t want to disappointment anyone including myself
They will never see you as a man because you are not. Use that to your advantage. I had had to rack heavy gear in the past and I have had to ask for help. It did not make me less qualified to do the job. They will be glad to help you!
Don't be intimidated by men in your field. Some will be jerks but most will respect you and your choice or career. Interestingly enough, I was told a few times that technicians were intimidated by me because I was giving instructions. I found that odd but it is all about how you carry yourself. Be confident. I have never focused on the fact that I am a woman in a man dominated industry. I am sometimes baffled when someone does mention it. I just never think about it. I never questioned my own abilities. You will see that men struggle too. If you enjoy your work, there is no reason why you can't be just as good as them or even better. The comparison is weird to me.
They will never see you as a man because you are not. Use that to your advantage. I had had to rack heavy gear in the past and I have had to ask for help. It did not make me less qualified to do the job. They will be glad to help you!
Don't be intimidated by men in your field. Some will be jerks but most will respect you and your choice or career. Interestingly enough, I was told a few times that technicians were intimidated by me because I was giving instructions. I found that odd but it is all about how you carry yourself. Be confident. I have never focused on the fact that I am a woman in a man dominated industry. I am sometimes baffled when someone does mention it. I just never think about it. I never questioned my own abilities. You will see that men struggle too. If you enjoy your work, there is no reason why you can't be just as good as them or even better. The comparison is weird to me.
Well, I just joined the group which is also the reason why i'm feeling a bit intimidated since they have a couple of years of experience ahead of me. I tend to be not so confident but as soon I get used to the work and I hope I enjoy it I know i'll be passionate. I'm feeling so nervous, I feel like throwing up. As soon as I moved up all my stuff to my new desk, one of the guys mentioned that they tend to have a crass sense of humor and that they aren't used to having a woman around them in a light-hearted way, that's when I jokingly told him to see me as just one of the guys so we all feel comfortable with each other and I blend in. It's true that whole department is really all men. They're really nice of what i've known from interacting with them before.
Plus, even if I had mostly all guys in my classes when I was doing my degree, I never hung out with them outside of classes so adding that fact and the fact that I was raised in a very protected environment with no men around other than family members, I feel a bit like i'm in an unknown territory. It's weird I know.
Like Sara said, I'll get used to it, I just need to show them that I do have the knowledge.
Well, I just joined the group which is also the reason why i'm feeling a bit intimidated since they have a couple of years of experience ahead of me. I tend to be not so confident but as soon I get used to the work and I hope I enjoy it I know i'll be passionate. I'm feeling so nervous, I feel like throwing up. As soon as I moved up all my stuff to my new desk, one of the guys mentioned that they tend to have a crass sense of humor and that they aren't used to having a woman around them in a light-hearted way, that's when I jokingly told him to see me as just one of the guys so we all feel comfortable with each other and I blend in. It's true that whole department is really all men. They're really nice of what i've known from interacting with them before.
Plus, even if I had mostly all guys in my classes when I was doing my degree, I never hung out with them outside of classes so adding that fact and the fact that I was raised in a very protected environment with no men around other than family members, I feel a bit like i'm in an unknown territory. It's weird I know.
Like Sara said, I'll get used to it, I just need to show them that I do have the knowledge.
Coming from a household of all gals and being an extreme case of introvert personality, completely understand. You will get used to it. When I was in the field, guys would crack guy jokes and it was painful for me because 90% of the time I did not get them. I stopped paying attention to what they talked about. My sense of humor is very dry and they came to know that. They made fun of me because I zoned out all the time while they would keep on cracking jokes. Meh... I don't care to blend in, never did. I am completely fine with sticking out like a weirdo. Just do you and people will love that regardless of their gender.
I went from a group that had mostly all women, of all personalities that loved to gossip to a group that has all men on it and i'm the only woman. Infrastructure support in IT and I feel like I don't do too well around the male of the species. I don't understand them and working with them, I don't want to get any one of them angry with me ever!! I'm freaking out because I want to do well and be a master in the field rather than being carried. I am emotional I do hate lifting heavy hardware equipment, I don't want to hide behind those things but they are true. I love my work and I don't want to do anything to screw this up. I should see through the gender issue but it's like the big elephant in the room. I told them to see me as a guy because I don't want to be seen as different.
Let me add: It was my dream to be a part of this group in IT but I don't want to disappointment anyone including myself
Does anybody else work with all men?
i work in an IT company where 90-95% of workforce is all men.
in my team i am the only girl with my directors being part of the same team. but i never get intimidated, in fact they always encourage me and have never discriminated me on the basis of gender. i somehow find it more easier to work in all men atmosphere. whenever, my male colleagues are about to make some crass joke, they would tell me hey close your ears for a min lols. and don't worry by thinking that you won't have females around for gossip sessions, believe me, men are equally good at gossips. :D
just take it easy, focus on your work, don't avoid your male team members, maintain cordial work relations with them and you would gel in with them in no time.
dont understand the question. you have an IT job, where does gender factor in so much? if you were a construction worker or coal miner, maybe there's an issue. you are just over-thinking this and psyching yourself out. stop. kaam karo shabash.
So being in IT as well, I can point out one thing that I feel women tend to face tough competition with guyz on board as men tend to do a lot of hardwork without any time restriction while understandably women sometimes have their own issues that can cause distraction. But other than that its all good. Infact guyz are very considerate towards women as compared to other fellas.
Much better working with men than women. Much less drama.
This is so not true! I always thought this as well but I couldn't be more wrong! They gossip, b!tc#, and moan just like women do at work. They are no better. I was utterly surprised to see this attitude. Yes, I work in IT and I have worked with men and women, a lot more with men and I don't see much of a difference. Maybe because I am indifferent to both genders. I wonder if women in IT are less of drama queens at work. Could that be the reason why I have not noticed a difference?
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So being in IT as well, I can point out one thing that I feel women tend to face tough competition with guyz on board as men tend to do a lot of hardwork without any time restriction while understandably women sometimes have their own issues that can cause distraction. But other than that its all good. Infact guyz are very considerate towards women as compared to other fellas.
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Yeah of course if all women could work the 24/7 days a week schedule i'm sure women would as well. A company(my love) in my field has a tier 2 support that is 24/7 and I bet a lot of those guys that can do that are competitive and would give up their whole lives for their jobs. Most women can't because they have other responsibilities that can't take a job that isn't more on a 8-6pm schedule. Single moms or ones that are taking care of their ailing parents for instance even if they need those jobs to survive just as much men do.
This is so not true! I always thought this as well but I couldn't be more wrong! They gossip, b!tc#, and moan just like women do at work. They are no better. I was utterly surprised to see this attitude. Yes, I work in IT and I have worked with men and women, a lot more with men and I don't see much of a difference. Maybe because I am indifferent to both genders. I wonder if women in IT are less of drama queens at work. Could that be the reason why I have not noticed a difference?
You're not alone! I've either been very very lucky and have never been friends or acquaintances with the gossipy girls or unlucky to know a lot drama llama boys. I too went from an all girls school to an all boys environment so all the stereotypes shattered haha. I couldn't tell any guy anything because it would get to every other guy in under 10 minutes. And there was also far too much male posturing.
As for the topic on hand the one thing I've noticed it's very easy for guys too make contacts and leave you behind if you don't socialize with them out of the office. Promotion rumours, tips from the boss can seep out into the non-office hours so you need an eye and ear open to ensure you're not missing out on anything.
My situation is similar to yours but with women. I work with mostly girls who seem to think it's okay for them to put there hands on my shoulder or my leg whenever they want. Some even playfight me which I find slightly amusing but inappropriate. Just the other day I was sitting down and this girl came up, and wrapped her arms around me from behind. I don't get what that's about.
I could probably understand if I was friends with these girls outside work or even showed I remotely cared about there life outside work but I don't. They are just colleagues and I go to work, do my thing and go home. No one has my phone number or anything to get in touch with me. Most of these girls like to spread gossip etc. It's not my thing. I couldn't care less.
I've been working with mostly guys over the last few months which was a good change but over the last 2 weeks it's gone back to all girls and the touching has started again. Really weird. I feel like setting them straight but it'll probably make everything awkward at work after that.
If they were hitting on me i’d know by now cause the amount of gossip that goes around one of the guys would have told me and half the girls are married.
All these girls are white aswell. If they were asian maybe i’d take more notice of them but there are no asian girls that i’ve seen in the company I work for
No women to gossip around the water cooler with? Dang, what a drag. IT guys are boring geeks anyway.
Just focus on your job and be good at what you do. No one says you have to be best buddies with your male colleagues. It is not a requirement of your job.
