Does anyone else work in a 'male environment'? This is doing my head in!!!

[reddA]

I work in antiques and although I am not authority on antiques I am the person behind the funding etc. and I am so sick of being passed over as the 'little woman' ffs - these antique dealers are so up their own arses it's ridiculous, I am currently grinning away with the occasional dig at these 2 numpties discussing china in front of me - I just want to scream!!!

[Loveactuallyoctopus]

Yep. I work in export. I like to think i know what im doing. Apparently, women can't possibly work in export. I have seen visible shock on every single man's face who's met me to try and get me to use their business. I have so far used none of them.

Several of my colleagues (good natured ones who know me much better now) sat on meeting me they presumed I was a bit thick. I've got them on side now but outside contractors are a pain in my arse!

[RunningOutOfCharge]

yes,i'm manager of a building and tools department.....they see me and ask 'is there someone i can speak to about this drill/pipe/wood/plasterboard?' ....yes,me? how can i help?.....'well i was hoping someone could tell me ....'

infuriating!! and they look past me, around me....anyplace they might glimpse a man, even if its the new lad who is 17 and works on the till and knows nothing yet....still they would rather have his opinion.

[sirfredfredgeorge]

So what you're saying is Lovejoy wasn't drama, but a documentary?

[reddA]

I feel for you both - I've had this for a few years now but not I own then company I'm the 'receptionist' and 'can you ask the boss' ffs - seriously it's so frustrating!! Especially as I know he can't even wash his own bloody boxer shorts :-)

[reddA]

Oh if you get arsey Gardengeek it will be down to your hormones - obviously :)

[AmiU]

I led an all female team for a client for 2 years. In the third year, a male graduate joined us. Clients repeating assumed he was my manager.

[BathshebaKnickerStickers]

I worked in internet support 20 years ago, and before that I was in sport research. To be honest I found it hysterically funny, but then all the guys I worked with also found it hysterical because they knew and acknowledged how good I was

[BakewellTart01]

I work in software. I have been the most senior person in the room and my male colleagues refuse to ask for my help.

Now a senior manager and client facing and when a male from my team joins a conference call they speak directly to him and ask him questions only I can answer. I still get royally fucked off and it's been nearly 20 years!

[DailyMailReadersAreThick]

I work in construction and, thankfully, I haven't experienced this. I guess it would be different if I were a labourer, but I'm in a professional role. I have worked with a couple of open misogynists, but on the whole I've been treated with respect and not patronised or mansplained to.

[MissingDietCoke]

Yep. Very specific area of construction. Not a labourer but in a professional role, but there have been several times when a phone client has asked to "speak to a man". Erm, nope. I'm the Senior. I know what I'm talking about. I know what you need. I know how to build that. I've done this role for 15 years now and I, rightly or wrongly, totally use my gender to my advantage now (as in a I get remembered as I'm something a bit different as opposed to anything more overt). If people are going to be a bit daft in 2017, then let them crack on!

[BuzzKillington]

Me! I work in the construction industry in a senior role.

I am subjected to casual sexism every day and a fair bit of low level harassment.

[RunningOutOfCharge]

Actually it get it from women too.....older women

'Is there a man who knows around?'

[PigletJohn]

not this in particular, but if I get the chance, I like to say "you can speak to the boss, if you want"

(would also work if you are chief engineer, head of department, manager, business owner, etc)

[HolidayHelpPlease]

I feel you... I am a (young) teacher, and a HOD. There is a much older, male teacher (not a HOD) who likes to borrow equipment from my classroom without asking. I remove all power cables from the equipment in my room as a habit so that students don’t play with them/break them. I have seen him walk out with the equipment one more than one occasion but NEVER ask me for help/ tell me it doesn’t work... it just magically reappears 20mins later in my room....

[ShutUpBaz]

I'm a Kitchen Manager and the only female in my kitchen. My five chefs and anyone that comes into contact with us know without asking that I am 'The Boss'. I am also the shortest which is the source of much banter but thats just how kitchens are. Its all about bearing in this game!

[BobbinThreadbare123]

Yes, I work with engineers. Most are fine but you do get older men who literally pretend I'm not in the room at all. Also, men who think my role is to answer the door or make connecting phone calls for them. Pathetic!

[WhiskeySourpuss]

Yep all the time! Usually sales reps who after being put right are fine but we had one (a supplier we used a lot when I took over a year ago) who just didn't get it & insisted on talking to "the boys" always coming in when he knew I wouldn't be there - I've since sourced another supplier & when I was asked why the sudden drop in our business told them in no uncertain terms what the problem was! They thought sending a female rep the next time was a good response

[meredintofpandiculation]

Work was OK - it was the outside work informal discussions - all the men would want to go to a crowded bar with standing room only, and since they were all well over 6 ft and I am only just over 5ft, all the conversation went literally over my head.

When I was there they had to become very familiar with nice sit-down wine bars ;-)