1. I am an administrative assistant. We have a list-serve for all the admins in the company. On Friday I got an email that said, "Hello ladies, this is just a reminder to sign up for the advanced PowerPoint class." Ahem.
2. On Thursday a consultant from one of the powerhouse accounting firms was in for a meeting. A real networking type. He stopped by my desk and said, "Hi there, I'm ________ with _________, I don't think I've met you before, are you new?" "Oh, I've been here about six months." "Oh, okay, awesome. Nice to meet you. So, what's your specialty...are you the new international guy?" "Umm. No, I'm the department admin." [pause] "Oh. Okay, well, right, great to meet you."
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9 comments:
For the first one, you should have sent a polite e-mail asking if you were allowed to attend even though you have a penis.
This sounds more like a corporate culture issue than a career track issue--there are places out there where the admins are treated like real people and given opportunities to transfer internally.
In that guy's defense, you do look the part of the high-powered go-getter.
I would probably have forwarded a copy of the email to the HR department with a note saying that while you're not offended (this time), it would be best to educate the execs in your office that not all admins are female.
You just have to laugh at people like that outside rep. He's probably close to the bottom of his own totem pole and scrambling desperately to meet people that he would deem helpful to his own rise.
My own issue that falls into this realm is the term "secretary." While it's not offensive, and may even be correct, I never hesitate to remind people that the correct term is "administrative assistant." I am not a secretary.
You should have responded, "A secretary is not a toy."
Then again, if they got the reference, they probably wouldn't have made that mistake in the first place.
Wear your red dress and matching shoes to the PowerPoint class.
First one: An insult is just a compliment turned inside out. Take it as a compliment on your outfit. As you said, EVERYONE goes to that certain cross-dressing benefit, so who's to say your J.E. Hooveresque superiors are not among them?
Are librarians Civil Service in O-gone? If so, get your MLS!
*grin* I think it is a corporate culture thing. This is a prime example of why I signed my name as just "Jerry" back in the corporate world. Most CSR's were female, but when product managers came across an e-mail they thought was from a guy in our department, they responded with more urgency. I enjoyed playing that to my advantage while I could.
Send them a picture of you in the red dress, ask them if it is okay to join.
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