I am a woman that started in I.T. in 1983. I began as a mainframe operator. The only reason I was given the opportunity was because I had been a brakeman on the railroad. I was born in 1954 and as a female was not allowed into classes like wood shop or mechanics as those were boys only. I was never tested for a mechanical aptitude until the railroad tested me. Lots of people were shocked that this “little lady” had a very high mechanical aptitude. The work on the railroad was open hostility from the men but the main problem they had with me was I had not given birth to my quota of babies. The hostility was open and easier to deal with than the undermining, backstabbing, groping, and behind the scenes sexism in the computer industry. I am a feminist and I thought it was my responsibility to pave the way for my sisters that come behind me.
You will notice I go by an acronym rather than my female sounding name. I had to get my foot in the door and get people to respect my knowledge and then let them find out I am a woman.
I had a highly successful career in I.T. because I was better than my male peers. I was paid less than my peers and worked much longer hours. I was called in by management to fix what a young buck had screwed up. At the same time I had an upper level manager say to me “C.J., there are certain jobs a woman shouldn’t do”. He was referring to pulling a cable through the ceiling which I had only done about 50 times prior to his comment.
I made the decision to force my way into the boys playground and at the same time I wasn’t able to find a man to love me because they did not understand my career and oftentimes were intimidated. I am a strong woman by necessity and that is a turn off.
I truly thought that by proving the worth of a woman in Information Technology that the generation coming behind me wouldn’t have to go through what I did.
Takotsubo took me out of the industry and I don’t see any progress for women.