4 Things I learned from my male colleagues as a female in engineering
Payscale released a report stating that “in 2023, for every $1 that men make, women earn $0.83”.
We often like to blame gender inequality in the workplace for the lack of women in important positions or for the lower pay women receive compared to men. However, this explanation fails to account for the reasons why men tend to earn more across industries and why pay often decreases when industries shift from a male-dominated to a female-dominated workforce.
My 10+ year career in engineering led me to conclude the following:
Guys are always prepared to sell or brag
There have been instances where my clients would complain to me about my male colleagues bragging excessively about their knowledge in the construction field. However, it later turned out that these colleagues were not adhering to the standard inspection procedures, resulting in non-conformity reports (NCRs) being issued to them. Surprisingly, they didn't seem concerned about appearing foolish in front of others, despite knowing that they weren’t performing tasks properly.Be ready to jump on an opportunity before they are ready
If there is an internal opening, my male colleagues will be the first ones to jump at the chance immediately. Even if the candidates they are suggesting do not reflect the work culture and lack the necessary work ethic, they will still make suggestions under the company's referral policy to receive referral fees. They are always prepared and eager for such opportunities!
They ask for a raise any time of the year
My colleagues systematically throws tantrums to get the attention of my departmental manager. When called into a small room by my manager, they will express their concerns about their salaries, which they believe are too low given their level of expertise. As a result of their efforts, they usually succeed in getting a 30% raise. It is worth noting that this is not an isolated case in my office.
On the other hand, my female colleagues are less inclined to ask for salary increases once they are employed. Unlike their male counterparts, they tend to lean towards collaboration and aim to create a harmonious work environment. Consequently, they are less likely to cause disruptions or engage in confrontations, and thus less likely to get a raise.Men usually go into jobs that are physically more taxing
During the last 7 years of my career in construction, I only see 1 % of women on site. In my last job at a heavy-lifting company, I noticed that apart from me, 99% of the population at work were male. There were several times when I had trouble finding the keys to the female toilet because the toilet was rarely used. Women typically go for desk jobs like document controllers, site admins, or material procurers, but site work is usually where the monies are in Taiwan.
I believe that men have been conditioned by their peers to boast about their abilities, and this tactic seems to be effective. Just yesterday, my male colleague informed me about a female subcontractor in her 50s who was recently hired by our company. Let's refer to her as G. Surprisingly, G is earning 23% more than my colleague, solely by employing the tactics I mentioned earlier, and she’s not even a guy, so it proves that the tactic works!
So to my female readers out there, brag & sell. Vie for opportunities that you’re not yet comfortable with, but may be qualified for, and dare to be confrontational at times, and lastly, be okay to opt for jobs that might require you to get your hands dirty!
