How long until old people stop asking if I'm the secretary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your presence. Act like the boss and they will treat you like one.

Oh yes. And grow a penis as well. That will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your presence. Act like the boss and they will treat you like one.

Oh yes. And grow a penis as well. That will help.

Take your eye roll elsewhere. It's not about acting like a man. Act like a supervisor. It's not 1950, there are plenty of women supervisors and bosses out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your presence. Act like the boss and they will treat you like one.

Oh yes. And grow a penis as well. That will help.

Wear dress suits with shoulder pads.

[Anonymous]

Right around 30 when I was visibly pregnant was when people finally stopped asking if I was an intern. I'd been here for almost 5 years post law school at that point.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP, I had the same problem. When I was a summer associate, someone even asked if I were the managing partner's teen daughter at a firm outing. There are some advantages to looking young as you get older.

[Anonymous]

I worked with a woman who was regularly asked by the same guy if she would copy stuff and send faxes for him, and he always called her by the wrong name. They were both attorneys and they'd been in meetings together. She thought he did it on purpose, but I think he was just crazy.

[Anonymous]

There is a certain cadre of folks, mainly old men, who will think you're the secretary no matter how professional you look or how you act.

Personally, I'm just waiting for them to die out. And looking forward to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your presence. Act like the boss and they will treat you like one.

Oh yes. And grow a penis as well. That will help.

Wear dress suits with shoulder pads.

That would be a great way to make everyone think she is an older secretary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked with a woman who was regularly asked by the same guy if she would copy stuff and send faxes for him, and he always called her by the wrong name. They were both attorneys and they'd been in meetings together. She thought he did it on purpose, but I think he was just crazy.

Most partners didn't bother to learn my name either or called me someone else's name. Some partners just can't be bothered which is kinda sad.

Don't think guys are missing out on all the fun. The male equivalent is thinking they work for IT or the mailroom.

[Anonymous]

OP - I have been out of school for 15 years and the other day was asked by someone on the other side if I was an attorney because I sounded so young. I have also been asked if I was a partner's wife by a client (which would have been a very big age gap - and I was wearing a pant suit).

I think the goal is once you get off the phone or after the conversation for there to be no doubt that you are a professional. It is not fair and an uphill battle having to prove yourself every time, but unfortunately that is the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked with a woman who was regularly asked by the same guy if she would copy stuff and send faxes for him, and he always called her by the wrong name. They were both attorneys and they'd been in meetings together. She thought he did it on purpose, but I think he was just crazy.

Most partners didn't bother to learn my name either or called me someone else's name. Some partners just can't be bothered which is kinda sad.

Don't think guys are missing out on all the fun. The male equivalent is thinking they work for IT or the mailroom.

Yes, but very unlikely if they are wearing a suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a certain cadre of folks, mainly old men, who will think you're the secretary no matter how professional you look or how you act.

Personally, I'm just waiting for them to die out. And looking forward to it.

+1

It's not about how you dress, or act, or your 'presence' in the room. This is sexism at work, plain and simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your presence. Act like the boss and they will treat you like one.

Oh yes. And grow a penis as well. That will help.

Take your eye roll elsewhere. It's not about acting like a man. Act like a supervisor. It's not 1950, there are plenty of women supervisors and bosses out there.

You have no idea. How do you "act like a supervisor" when the person just walked into the room and assumed you get coffee. It's not like the person will make that mistake twice.

[Anonymous]

Ha ha I remember this! Just wait 10 years. In the mean time you could try a really nice haircut and expensive suits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to work on your presence. Act like the boss and they will treat you like one.

Oh yes. And grow a penis as well. That will help.

Take your eye roll elsewhere. It's not about acting like a man. Act like a supervisor. It's not 1950, there are plenty of women supervisors and bosses out there.

You have no idea. How do you "act like a supervisor" when the person just walked into the room and assumed you get coffee. It's not like the person will make that mistake twice.

I would love for this to happen to me. I'd get them coffee and then let them find out that I'm their peer. Would be pretty funny.