TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Here's a sideline on this: at a previous employer, I quickly realized
that if I really dressed up (dress, suit, etc.), I was treated by the
engineers/programmers as though I was clerical or administrative
support. However, if I dressed like they did (jeans, Dockers, etc.),
they treated me more like a peer. No more "Could you clean up my
low-level spec for me?", or "When you get a chance, I've got some
meeting notes I need typed up" (yes, I was actually asked this by a
senior programmer).
Chris Welch-Hutchings
Sr. Technical Writer
Home Wireless Networks, Inc.
Norcross GA (USA)
cwhutchings -at- homewireless -dot- com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: DURL [SMTP:durl -at- BUFFNET -dot- NET]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 1998 9:58 AM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Summary: #$ -at- %#^&$# secretary stuff...
>
> Thanks to you all. I think this is on topic, given that a
> significant percentage of us are female and encounter this struggle
> about
> our status as profesionals, apparently due to our gender. It's
> relevant
> to all of us because
> the trend is that, as a profession includes greater numbers of women,
> the
> salary declines.
> More than half the men said they'd been asked to take minutes.
> Of those, about half agreed and half declined. As you all saw, most of
> the
> men felt, "If you wanna pay me $60 hr to take minutes, I'll do it."
> IMO, most men don't see the problem, probably because they
> don't
> experience it. The problem I fear is that, once a woman takes on a
> clerical
> task, it
> becomes harder to explain why she won't take on the next one. I
> suspect
> that a male note-taker wouldn't be asked to type a letter,
> simply because the gender stereotypes reduce the odds of that
> occurrence.
> My answer to the interviewer was, "I'm willing to do it, but I
> have a concern that, by doing it, I'll be seen as clerical support and
> therefore have a harder time being treated as a professional when I
> interview the programmers and technical staff."
> He--literally!--waved away this objection and said, "In a
> perfect
> world, we'd have a secretary to do it. As it is, we all have to wear
> different hats."
> I reiterated my concern; he said, "OK, how about if we just do
> it
> among ourselves, not in front of the client?"
> I said, "If you're willing to take the risk, I'm willing to do
> it.
> Heck, I'll even let you open doors for me."
>
> After reading your responses, next time this comes up, I'll
> take
> the advice of the listers who pointed out that taking notes for my
> purposes precludes taking minute notes. I'll also ask if the chore is
> rotated, or suggest rotation.
>
> Thanks again!
> Yours for $100/hr rates,
> Mary
>
> Mary Durlak Erie Documentation Inc.
> East Aurora, New York (near Buffalo)
> durl -at- buffnet -dot- net
>
>
> > Mary wrote -
> >
> > Went to talk to a potential client today. Talked to the
> Project
> > Coordinator, the lead engineer....got past them, apparently, because
> they
> > brought in the Project Manager.
> > He asked a few relevant questions (no cannonballs, no
> grenades)
> > and then said, "Are you willing to take meeting minutes and make
> copies?"
> > Does this *happen* to you gentlemen?
> >
>
>
> &^~~~
> Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
> TECHWR-L)
>
