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From: pc@hplabsb.UUCP (Patricia Collins)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Feminism and a double standard(?)
Message-ID: <2117@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-Feb-84 15:42:20 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.2117
Posted: Tue Feb 28 15:42:20 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 2-Mar-84 15:26:52 EST
References: <3548@tekecs.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 29

re: Barbara Theus' comments

	The reason not to "take advantage" of your sexist colleagues is
that your implicit acceptance of their definition of your role will come
back to haunt you if you ever want to be "taken seriously."  If the
person who perceives you as a woman (girl?) first and engineer second
happens to be higher than you in the corporate structure, you will find
that you are evaluated first as a woman and second as an engineer.  You
may find that you are well liked and that you get less flack than a woman
who is labelled a hard core feminist (read: no fun at all), but that you
will be described as "cute; and she's not a bad engineer!" (tone: 
condescension).  My colleagues who are not blatantly sexist seem to
value friendliness, but don't look for flirtatiousness.  Those who
do want to see women (and men!) in terms of some sexual stereotype are
not likely to turn that prejudice off when it comes time to consider
people for leadership, creativity, technical expertise, and professional
maturity.

	If there is any hope for getting what you want out of your career
when you have to deal with double standards, it is by taking the reigns
and redefining the rules.  When it's clear that you are an engineer first
(where your job is concerned), even the die-hards may eventually see you
as you project yourself.  [While the first paragraph comments are an
attempt at objective realism, this last statement is admittedly optimistic.]

					Patricia Collins
					hplabs