Eureka 5
I travel a lot for work so many times I’m striking up conversations with the person sitting next to me on the plane. As expected, the typical question is “Are you out here on business or pleasure?” When I reply business, I know that the next question will be “What business?” Nine out of ten times after I explain that I’m in Clinical Research I get that blank look from my fellow passenger and it is probably the same look on your face right now. In my field, we conduct drug or device trials and my job involves monitoring doctors and hospitals involved in the trial to ensure that they are following the protocol of the study and for patient safety. One important trait for a person working in this monitoring job is that the person needs to be able to multi-task and display great attention to detail. After taking this class, I’m a little uncomfortable stating this but in my field there are more women than men doing this job due to the fact that women are better at multi-tasking and attention to details. Now on to my Eureka moment….Recently, my department has been conducting interviews for additional monitors and I’ve been responsible for weeding though resumes to see what candidates would be worth scheduling for interviews. I try to ignore the name of the candidate so I don’t immediately stereotype based on gender instead of experience. I’ve even set up interviews with both genders so that I give equal chance. Trust me when I say that I would love to add a man or men to the department because I think that there is danger of cattiness when too many women work together (sorry another stereotype) but none of the men interviewed showed signs that they could fulfill the job requirements. Do we hire someone just so we don’t reinforce a stereotype or do we hire a person who will excel at the job? Last semester I wouldn’t have given it a second thought but now I find it amusing that this class is making me think twice.
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I am commenting on this because it reminds me of my fiances prior situation. Before he landed his current job, he interviewed at another place. They told him to his face (which I later found out they should not have done) that he was the pefect candidate and they would love to offer him the job, however they had to see if any minorites applied. He was floored by this. I was too. Whatever happened to the most qualified person gets the position. He later came to find out they hired someone less educated and qualified to meet a "quota" and they didnt last long and they lost the right candidate. Good for him that he landed a better position elsewhere, but it still stung. In a lot of places, most people will read resumes with names covered (like you) to avoid sterotypes. I know when I created my resume I made it very gender neutral and made sure it was hitting on the strengths to make sure all biases were not being shown. If a place wants to consider me, I want it to be for me, not because of an alterior motive.
ReplyDeleteOL1Wk 5 – Response to Jennifer
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree with you more. This class may have been short but it is very enlightening. The other day I was sitting in my car waiting for a very long light to change at a busy intersection. Pedestrians were crossing at the corner and I found myself really noticing the individuals compared to what I usually do, stare off in space until the light changes. Keep in mind that I didn’t know anything about these people passing in front of me but I found myself speculating and yes stereotyping. I suddenly caught myself and realized what I was doing (Eureka moment) and also recognized that I don’t think that I was that unique in that moment. I know that I shouldn’t generalize but as a society I think that we all have stereotypical thoughts even if we don’t verbalize them. Like you said though, “admitting you have a problem is the first step.”
Regarding the cougar issue you mention, I’d like to add to it. I wonder why we say that women pursue older and/or younger men but we don’t say that older men pursue younger women. Some women view the comparison to a cougar as a compliment because it implies that women are finally in the drivers’ seat and going after what they want. Are we women part of the problem? Hummm….Does that make it acceptable?
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OL1 - Wk 5 Response to Lindsey
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is going through the same thing you are and she is also just as frustrated. I try to be understanding and offer words of wisdom (lol) since my husband and I’ve been married 32 years but honestly I think that it doesn’t really have to be an issue unless you two make it one. There are ways of making the cave a room that both of you can enjoy and as far as the rest of the house goes you may be surprised that he may really care what furnishings you purchase but he is just afraid to let the decorator in him out. We are all products of our upbringing but it doesn’t mean that we can’t change our views and this test that you are experiencing with your boyfriend could be the first step in changing the gender stereotype. Don’t give up.