Random discrimation was always fun, of course. ranty/dialogue heavy

[vstorevigilante]

Once upon a time, at HellMart, I was (for some reason that is beyond my scope of understanding to this very day) put in Sporting Goods. I was the only female under the age of 50 in that end of the store, "hardlines". At any given time, I was in charge of covering Sporting Goods, Hardware, Pets, Seasonal, Toys and Stationary, especially on delightfully busy, understaffed days. ANYWAY, nobody thought twice about asking me questions pertaining to toys and pets; on the contrary, they assumed I knew a lot about toys (being 19 at the time and considerably younger than most parents), and knew I'd been educated about the fish we sold. I was also just as educated about the amunition I sold, the paintball guns, the rifle scopes, the binoculars, knives, AND the paint I mixed in hardware.

Most people didn't want to believe this, however.

A few gems:

Me * standing at paint counter as a man wanders up*: Hi, can I help you with something?
SC (male, probably 40 years old): Um... is the gentleman that works here in?
Me: Oh, you mean *Hardware Department manager, G*? He's not in on weekends, I'm afraid. Is there something I can help you with?
SC: Well, I needed a can of paint mixed.
Me: No problem, do you have a colour and base picked out?
SC: Well, I was really hoping to talk to G about this.
Me: I can answer any questions you have, and I can certainly mix your paint for you.
SC: Is that other man around? *he was talking about R, my DM for Sports*
Me: The Department Managers don't work on the weekends, I'm afraid.
SC: ... I'll just come back Monday.

Sidenote: I look about 16, even now at 21. I may have looked even younger then. And I am most definitely a girl.

Over at the sports counter...

Me: Hi, how can I help you?
SC *male, probably about 50 years old*: I was wondering if I could get a hunting license.
Me: No problem! I just need your FA permit. What were you looking for?
SC: Deer. That's called "big game" in your book there, sweetie.
Me *if looks could kill....*: I know... *starts filling out license*
SC: What are you doing down in this department anyway, sweetie?
Me: Selling hunting licenses, sir.

Which I am certified to do, and have all the information on, kthanks.

Me *tidying around my sports counter*: CAN I HELP YOU? (without the yelling.. aha)
SC *male, 30ish*: Do you hunt?
Me: No, but was there something I could help you with?
SC: You've never killed an animal?
Me: Aside from fishing, no.
SC: Then why do you work in this department?
Me: Being fond of killing things for sport isn't a job requirement, sir. Were you looking for something in particular?
SC: I need a knife, one that's good for gutting and fileting. Do you know what that means?
Me: Yes, I fish.
SC: I think I'll come back when R is in.
Me:

I won't begin to explain the amount of times at (both of!) the call center(s) I worked at, various male (and a few female!) SCs refused to speak with me because I'm a woman. So many of you work at callcenters, I'm sure you know. Ow, my brain.

[baileysinmycoffee]

Yes I can relate!

I am a callcenter CSR for a cable/internet/phone company. I take tech support calls. I am female and I sound like I'm 17.

I can't even count how many times a man (usually older "old fashion" ones) will call in and say "is there a guy who can help me with this?"

Um, news flash: Last time I checked, being a male was not a prereq in order to troubleshoot a basic cable box or modem. Sheesh!

I wouldn't be sitting here taking calls if I did not *sucessfully* complete and pass my 6 weeks of training, or my ongoing training classes.

Do you people want help or not?!?!? LOL. Fix your own damn cable box then

[Merriweather]

Yes I can relate!

Me too

Only in reverse. I got my computer degree back in the early 80's. Never had too many problems at work, cause those who hired me and worked with me knew I knew what I was doing, and I was writing parts of huge naval programs used on carriers, so I rarely saw clients.

BUT whenever I shopped for anything computer related (I've had a home computer since long before Windows came along and everyone bagan to get them), I want to strangle those who talk down to me and tell me what I want. Or they talk to my husband, who hasn't a clue. I've even had to report a few clerks to management when they just refuse to talk with me and toss some totally wrong BS at me.

You would think it would get better now the computer field isn't so male dominated, but now I'm a grandmother, and am beginning to look the part, they REALLY won't believe I was writing computer code before most of them were born.

If you ever read on the news that a little middle aged grandmother has strangled a computer store clerk with his own USB cable, could you take up a collection for my bail?

[vstorevigilante]

If you ever read on the news that a little middle aged grandmother has strangled a computer store clerk with his own USB cable, could you take up a collection for my bail?

I'll personally post the funds, if I can afford them! Also, no jury will convict

[ottid]

I've even had to report a few clerks to management when they just refuse to talk with me and toss some totally wrong BS at me.

This is the only reason I have told my grandmother who is umming and ahhing over whether she should get a laptop (doesn't have a desktop, but as laptops are smaller, she doesn't have to worry about where she will set it up), that when she goes to buy she HAS to take either me or my brother, so she isn't sold stuff she doesn't need.

On the other hand, all of us females here seem to know enough (if not more than enough) to not get tricked, or to believe a female can know everything. And if the males don't know yet, they will soon learn

[Marmalady]

There's still a mindset, especially (but by no means exclusively) aming older men that women simply don't know or can't grasp anything even vaguely technical, mechanical or practical.
I was on shop floor one day when a 40's-ish man comes up asking if there's a 'bloke' anywhere that can help him - he's smashed a glass panel in his back door and wants to replace it himself (glaziers call-out charges are crazy). No problem, I can help you with that sir.
He looks alarmed - 'Uh, it needs special, right little nails-' 'Panel pins? Yes, we have those. Have you already got some putty?'
He's still not convinced, he's looking around him desperate to see a male employee.
So then I ask, 'Have you managed to save the beading, or will you need some of that as well?'
My reference to beading (for those who don't know, the strips that fit over the glass around the aperture) finally seems to get it through to him that I do know what I'm talking about and he accompanies me to where the panel pins etc are laid out. He toddles out with his pins, putty and beading, still looking bemused.
Had he but known it, I could have done the whole job of replacing the glass for him.

[pitmonkey]

Try being in the auto industry and being female. They talk down to you or ask for a man all the time. And when you tell them their wrong or that you know what your talking about they look at you strange.

[DeltaSierra]

I ran into a lot of these kind of guys when I worked Hardware/Paint at Crappy Tire. They just couldn't wrap their heads around a WOMAN knowing more about paint/tools/whatnot than they did. It would make me giggle when they'd find a guy (usually somebody from Automotive or Sports) and start asking them questions, and they'd point to me and say "Ask HER - she's the expert!"

[Cazzi]

BUT whenever I shopped for anything computer related (I've had a home computer since long before Windows came along and everyone bagan to get them), I want to strangle those who talk down to me and tell me what I want.

I HATE that, happened to me too many times & i find the older guys that do it untrainable

I did however cure a younger salesman of "assuming"
The first time I bought a PC after my divorce I went to a nearby big chain store, looked around, decided what I wanted & was approached by a salesman. I told him I wanted x machine with the really new & fast (at the time) 128mb gfx card that was just released.

I then heard the words "but you don't need that card for word processing etc"

*Death glare activated* Maybe not but I do want it for <insert whatever FPS high graphic games were out in market at the time>

Apparently I do an extremely effective death glare... I have been told on occasion

Anyway, to cut it short, by the time we were wrapping the transaction up, he got to the bit in the delivery instructions about having the system set up at home.. he said "I'll just put not required in there then shall I?"

Good man

If you ever read on the news that a little middle aged grandmother has strangled a computer store clerk with his own USB cable, could you take up a collection for my bail?

For that I would consider selling my house to raise the funds

[sweetj82]

oh do i have stories for this one


when i was 19 i was a MOD at a local grocery store. i dont know how many times when the CS saw me they asked for D(older male MOD)
i had one lady who would rather talk to my meat guy than me.

i even had one guy yell at me b/c D was the closing manager that day. All 3 of us has 2 a week.

he said since D and H had family and where men that i should be stuck w/ all closings.

[MrsEclipse]

You know what's really fun? If the customer asks if there's a man around to help him, say, "But I am a man. You know, a lot of people say I look like a woman, and I just don't understand why... anyway, how can I help you?" It's extra funny if you have long, styled hair, a large bust, a skirt or dress, or stuff like that.

[LillFilly]

You know what's really fun? If the customer asks if there's a man around to help him, say, "But I am a man. You know, a lot of people say I look like a woman, and I just don't understand why... anyway, how can I help you?" It's extra funny if you have long, styled hair, a large bust, a skirt or dress, or stuff like that.

Sigh. And sadly, I DO get mistaken for a man. All the time. It's the uniform I swear, you just can't look...girly in it! And yeah, nobody wants to listen to a WOMAN with authority!

But then, I was out with the boyfriend in plain-clothes when the waiter asked "What can I get you gentleman" and I almost lept over the table at him!

[shankyknitter]

I saw this thread, and had to share this particular comic:

http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20040324.html

you're welcome.

[Talon]

If you ever read on the news that a little middle aged grandmother has strangled a computer store clerk with his own USB cable, could you take up a collection for my bail?

Who says you'll need to post bail? I'll help to hide the body
Although I do think Cat5 UTP would be a better choice for a noose.

[vstorevigilante]

I saw this thread, and had to share this particular comic:

http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20040324.html

you're welcome.

I got such a laugh out of that! THANK YOU!