Worth
Why is it that women don’t value our services/knowledge with as much worth as a man? Is that the Glass Ceiling Syndrome working in our own psyche? And the perpetuating stereotypical expectations of the opposite sex don’t help either.
I say this because if you don’t already know – I’m a girl geek. I’ve been in the IT industry for about 10 years. I’ve done everything from HelpDesk Tech to Applications. I can work on computer hardware, build machines, troubleshoot issues, remove viruses – the whole lot.
Anyhow, a co-worker of my hubby asked if I could fix his laptop. It turns out that the laptop had a lock on the Bios, as well as a lock on the Hard Drive. Which basically means at bootup – it wouldn’t do shit. Ask me how this happened and I’ll just say, I didn’t ask questions, I am only contracted to do the work asked and I presume the laptop was a “gift”.
Supposedly, he had taken the laptop to a big time tech friend who works for a well known hospital and another friend that works as a computer consultant. Both male and both kept the laptop for a couple of months; neither could fix it.
I really like challenges and I tend to be analytical which serves me well when troubleshooting. So to make some side cash, I told him to bring it and I’d look at it. The deal was IF I could rebuild the machine the cost would be $100.
Well being that I’m badass (say “She’s badass!”), I was able to crack both passwords in less than 2 hours. I reloaded the machine with a new OS and he was good to go!
He was excited that I was able to “fix” the machine. However, upon payment – he tried to give me a little bit of go around. I felt like if it had been a man that would have fixed his machine, there would have been no squabble. He did pay, after all I did do the job and he ended up praising what a great tech I am. Nonetheless – the incident caused me to think about the many times I’ve fixed machines for far less than most guys would charge – at least the ones I know.
Does any one else feel their worth is valued differently based on gender?
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My particular field doesn’t really gender-discriminate, but I have noticed that most men are treated with more respect to their professional opinions than women.
How were you able to load it up with a new OS? I thought Windows cost a pretty penny to buy to install on a blank machine. I’m so clueless when it comes to these things!
Good for you for getting it fixed! If he had given me the runaround, I’d have kept the laptop until payment was satisfied; glad he came to his senses and paid you.
Comment by Devilish Southern Belle | August 30, 2008