Re: secretaries

[Roger Mallett <roger -at- CSICAL -dot- COM>]

Melissa,

With respect to the following statement:

          "I am going to say something
          because if I don't this thing will
          eat at me and because I believe
          this negative perception can hurt
          my career with this company.
          I haven't decided HOW to say it yet . . ."

Choose your words carefully, but more importantly  --  watch your
attitude.  You don't want to give others (especially dept. heads, etc.)
the impression that you are a complainer, thin skinned, easily provoked,
etc. (the "etc"s are for all of you who were long winded on the previous
thread).  If your career is determined by those who offended you, then
prove yourself by ignoring it, for a reaction is certain to seal your
fate.  If your career is determined by others, then leave it alone, for
exacting retribution (through words, etc.) will be certain to find its
way back to those who really do count, or who may count in your future
(especially if those involved were innocent and didn't mean to hurt you)
.

Hope all goes well.

Roger Mallett


>----------
>From:  Melissa Alton[SMTP:maalton -at- UNITY -dot- NCSU -dot- EDU]
>Sent:  Wednesday, April 22, 1998 11:56 AM
>To:    TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
>Subject:       secretaries
>
>
>Hello everybody.
>
>First of all, I did not expect so many responses and I want to thank
>everyone for their encouragement and support.  I posted my complaint to
>the listserv because I feel this happened because I am a woman and
>people
>don't understand what a tech writer is.
>
>I have nothing against secretaries, but nobody wants to be mistaken for
>something they are not.  I'm sure this happens in other professions as
>well, for instance I'm sure a lot of female doctors are mistaken as
>nurses.  If you were a female doctor thought of as a nurse would you be
>insulted? Yes.
>
>I've worked very hard to get where I am and am working hard to get my
>MS
>while working full-time.  The secretaries in my department don't have
>college educations nor do they perform complicated tasks or solo
>assignments.
>
>Yes recognition for a job well done is great, but only if its
>recognition
>for work that you are actually doing, and not work that you are
>perceived
>as doing...
>
>I am going to say something because if I don't this thing will eat at
>me
>and because I believe this negative perception can hurt my career with
>this company.  I haven't decided HOW to say it yet.  When this whole
>thing is all over I will post the outcome.
>
>Thanks
>Melissa Alton
>
>~~~
>Check out topic summaries at
>http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/topics.htm
>
>
>