BlogBreak

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this

Happens to me all the time.Let’s face it…long hair-short dress gets hired whether they can do the job or not.Most of the females are more discriminatory than males.So, we see; it’s all about power,because women immediately began to discriminate as quick as they get a little authority!Chances are you probably were more qualified than the person who refused to hire you. Ain’t that America?

By stan

January 12, 2009 8:50 AM | Link to this

* Give me a break!!!! In an age where woman still do not earn the same as men….only a moron would try and paint men as the victims….what a waste of blog space*

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 9:02 AM | Link to this

You’re partially right, stan. Women don’t have to earn as much as men. An old judge,who thinks he’s funny,will GIVE the little ladies ALL your money,whether they earn it or not,If you don’t buy her enough chocolates, and she gets mad!

By Matthew Jones

January 12, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this

As a soon-to-be college graduate (and someone who has been out in the workforce for five years prior to that), I have seen firsthand the ill effects of male discrimination. I agree that women need equal rights and equal pay, so don’t get me wrong here…in fact, part of my research this upcoming semester is dealing with the opening of the workforce to others besides WASPs. In any case, I have realized that no matter how qualified that I am, I am going to be discriminated against because I am a man, and worse, I am a Southern man. Even though I have been working in an office as an administrative assistant as a student for a year and a half in a high-pressure, high-paced place, I will get overlooked because I am a man.

By Larry

January 12, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

I can’t really say if I haven’t been interviewed or hired because I haven’t gotten anybody calling me in yet. But a lot of the applications want to know my race and gender. I don’t have to answer, but I do to save them the time of calling me in and finding out I’m a white male. If my race and gender puts me two strikes down going in, I’ve just got one chance to make a good impression. I just wish they would give me that chance!

By Dee

January 12, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this

I’ve worked in corporations where men were in administrative positions. In fact, I thought men performed better than women in some cases. Here’s a secret……I’d rather work in an environment with mostly men because women are petty, back-biting, and cynical. Yes, I’m a female!

By HR Hater

January 12, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this

These temporary employment agencies have long been used as a tool for discrimination by corporations and small business alike. They call them with the specifications (race, gender, etc.) that they wish and they fill the order without accountability. Should have been shut down long ago.

By trevor

January 12, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this

The very same thing happened to me there are some jobs that these temp agencies refuse to give to a qualified male, especially if the position is one of clerical or any office related jobs. If you are a nice looking female your chances of getting hired are alot better.

By Doug

January 12, 2009 9:18 AM | Link to this

Men should earn more than women because we don’t take 6 weeks off to have little darlings. And se don’t cry when we get our feelings hurt.

By Michael K

January 12, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this

Why are ya’ll complaining. I worked with a lady that was told she was tooo fat to be the company receptionist and was fired after being on the jobs for a few years. She did not represent the company and this was not a health or fitness business. I also have heard WASP debate hiring blondes with large chest.

A friend of mine went into a similar office for a temp position such as clerical and had similar experiences such as the above article. However, his dred-locks and overbuild muscular build did prompt the office to send him to their warehouse division when they were hiring for manual labor jobs.

By Debby

January 12, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this

I don’t know about the man thing, but a few years ago I signed on with a temp agency and got a call about a job. The first thing out of the mouth of the person who called me about the job was to ask if I had a “nice dress” to wear. I was in my mid-thirties and married with children, and most definitely not a frump.

I think HRHater is right—they are discriminatory, and I would never have anything to do with one again.

By stan

January 12, 2009 9:25 AM | Link to this

Doug, I can not believe how ignorant you are….I guess your mother is real proud of her little darling

By sd

January 12, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

several years ago I thought about leaving my job to work for a Charity. I was willing to take a big paycut and I applied for a job that I was more than qualified for at a well-known charity. This particular office had 6 employees who were all women. I had a similar experience as above. The manager basically blew me off several times. I couldn’t prove it, but I was sure that it was because I was a man. I checked back a few months later and they had filled the position with a woman.

By zeke

January 12, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this

Enough! Women who work in a career, do not take time off for having children, who work the extra hours, and persevere earn as much as men! You cannot take off 3 to 6 months every year or two to have a baby, or take a year off with your baby, or constatly have to go pick them up from daycare because they have a fever, or, other things that take you away from your work responsibilities and expect to make the same as a man who works 40 plus hours every week, works even when sick and does the many things to advance his position! And, no, a secretary or an adminstrative assistant should not make as much as a ceo, president, vp, manager or a sales person! Get over it!

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 9:34 AM | Link to this

stan; Are you gay or something? You’re the only blogger that’s calling other’s names.There’s something wrong with you.Female trouble?

By Blair

January 12, 2009 9:37 AM | Link to this

The WHITE MAN is now crying about discrimination. I work in HR and whenever a white male does not get a job and some WHITE WOMAN OR MINORITY gets it over him, he screams and moans because in his universe, he just knows that he is the most qualified. WHITE MEN from Bernie Maddoff, Alan Greenspan, George Bush, Dick Cheney, etc. ran America into the the ground. They were in charge, NOT MINORITIES AND WOMEN. White men have proven what their qualfications really are.

By HP

January 12, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this

Whether I agree with this or not, this holds true: If you think you are being discriminated against for any reason: gender, race, eye color, age, etc., YOU DON’T WANT TO WORK THERE ANY WAY. IT WON’T GET ANY BETTER. People who tend to be discriminatory often don’t just pick on gender or race - they are just jerks in general and if you don’t fit into their mold or little clique you are in trouble. Times are hard, but there are decent companies out there. Do your research and keep your eyes open!

By Stan

January 12, 2009 9:46 AM | Link to this

billy bob, It is funny that you bring up the gay issue, I was going to ask you the same thing. Women had to have a man cosign just to open a checking account as recent as 30 years ago. The only thing you bring to this blog is…whoa is me….it is so hard being a man….and unlike your first post, I love this country as opposed to you crying “Ain’t that America?”

By otherside

January 12, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this

Lets not forget the other type of discrimination… it’s called the QUOTA system and it is still in effect in large corporations. IE: You are looking for a management job and have all the quals… but the company thinks they need to fulfill their 5% ethnic female quota. I see it all the time. It’s no secret.

By blairsredneck protege

January 12, 2009 9:48 AM | Link to this

Blair, Do you still work at Marta?

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this

Talk about a country,stan?There’s really no such thing to me. The whole of earth is my home.I have nothing against gays,I’m just wondering why you’re crying like a baby and calling names.You’ve added nothing to the discussion.

By Stan

January 12, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this

billybob…thank you for all that you have added…the finger pointing and crying about how you are the victim has been very helpful

By Staceye

January 12, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this

Men should earn more than women because we don’t take 6 weeks off to have little darlings. And se don’t cry when we get our feelings hurt. Doug that is a load of crap! Not every woman with a functioning uterus is dying to have little darlings! I for one am NOT! So should I still get paid less? Oh and BTW…I am a New Yorker so my feelings don’t get hurt. I may hurt yours! So it should be you getting paid less for being a sexist idiot!

How many times do women get passed over for highly paid positions or promotions? Now a man wants to cry foul because he can’t get an administrative job??? Oh boo hoo! Try being a woman with a MBA in her field of finance and no one wants to see her head up their company because they are so ignorant? Her capability be dmned! Or possibly they are afraid that she will do a better job and shatter that false since of security, or shall I say myth, that men have believing that they are the smarter gender! Oh heaven forbid! Then what will men have to stroke their egos with? “Hey… feel my muscle”! “That’s right baby…just stand there and look pretty and don’t speak!” That is the treatment women get everyday. So if you are complaining that a woman gets hired because she is attractive and wears a dress….then what about the jobs that you get simply because you were born with a pair of cojones. *(Let me help you sound that out…Co-hone-ez)

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this

Everyone on this page is in agreement but you, stan. Go blow!

By intempestivus

January 12, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this

Seems there’s a lot of bitterness here. Why is it such a surprise that people are prejudiced? Black, White, Male, Female, everyone has it in them. It tends to show more in the less educated but then the well educated tend to be biased toward people with advanced degrees. It’s everywhere. And, news flash, prejudice is not necessarily racism, sexism, ageism, etc. I once had a Director at a company where I worked question my intellect because of my southern accent. Sure it made me mad but I just blew it off as her, yes it was a she, problem. The point is, you are going to deal with prejudice when you deal with people. If they are so small minded that they can’t overcome their own bias, you are not going to do much to change that, but you can rest assured they will ultimately not be very successful. So, put your big boy/girl pants on and drive on. Wasting time on who likes or dislikes you for whatever silly reason is just a waste of time.

By Stan

January 12, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

Clearly not everyon agrees with you billybob…GO SWALLOW!!!!

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this

Are you counting the females?Perverted stan?

By stan

January 12, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this

Just you …sexist billybob

By BillyBob

January 12, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this

You answered to being called a pervert.I’m thru talking!

By c james

January 12, 2009 10:30 AM | Link to this

Thank you Gary for your prose. I have been wanting to address this too for a while now, but thought I was the only one out there who felt the way you do.

Your experience is so true, especially in the Atlanta job market. After moving from New York City in November ‘07, and never having a problem getting tons of interviews for assistant positions, based on my excellent qualifications and experience working for several titans of industry, I found that the Atlanta job market for male assistants is virtually closed.

At first, I suspected it may be the economy, but after several calls from interested employers and job agencies, I found the doors started closing once they found out I was a male. My unisex name, “Corey”, got me the initial phone calls, but once they heard my male voice, it was like the door slammed instantly. It’s a shame the “good ol’ boy south” still exists, and that many C-suite execs are late to the game with hiring male assistants.

In the Fortune 500, it’s become a status symbol for a male exec to have a male assistant. It’s ashame the Atlanta market hasn’t caught on yet, and in some cases, still looking for T&A behind the assistant’s desk.

By Jason

January 12, 2009 10:31 AM | Link to this

The sexual tension between you two is palpable.

By Stan

January 12, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this

I agree that billybob is “thru” and I see his fine education shows through in his spelling. Keep making your mother proud billybob

By jsmooth

January 12, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this

It’s pretty interesting but I have worked as a secretary for a female before and I had no problems. She liked the idea of me as her secretary. I made sure that her schedule was updated and I was very punctual(as was she).

Outsiders believe that she was authoritative and a bit b***, but I found that our relationship was more mentor based. She was constantly telling me to get back in school and she would give me rides and the like when I had car issues.

This was a long time ago now but I really did appreciate the fact that she not only gave me a chance but it was also a positive experience for the both of us.

By GTMike

January 12, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

Blair,

Way to demonstrate, by showing your own obvious prejudice, that reverse discrimination is alive and well in America today!

By Trunk Monkey

January 12, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this

awwww…duh weeceptionist wasn’t impwessed with widdow Gawwy and it cwushed his widdow ego?…awwww. Poe, poe Gawwy :-( snort

Obviously it was discrimination because obviously any company would JUMP on the opportunity to hire Gary…ANY company. Sheesh. In my experience MOST receptionists are rude. They don’t have much power so tend to abuse what little they have anytime they get the opportunity.

You don’t have to be a man for them to treat you like cr-p.

By Carlton

January 12, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this

Let’s face it… there will be work-type discrimination wherever you go. This is nothing new to anyone. If there are construction jobs, for example, women are generally overlooked because it is perceived that they cannot physically handle the same work as men. This of course is not necessarily true. The same is also present in administrative positions where women for decades (perhaps centuries) dominated.

Lack of cash flow due to loss (or lack) of employment knows no race or gender. It is important to note that everyone has to strategize to gain any position: know what you can bring to the table, and know what you are looking to do in the position - in short, know your territory.

Discrimination exists for sure, but it is important to be smart about your career and choices of where to become gainfully employed.

Hope this helps.

By Richard

January 12, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this

Apparently, some companies feel that to be in an Administration positions you have to be blond with boobs…Well not so fast, I have been this same type of position for almost seven year, and I’m having to start looking again, because of the type of company I work for. I like this gentleman have had the same problem…I’ve noticed the same sexiest type of attitude in the company I now work for, it doesn’t matter what some of the blonds know or do it’s just that the other men in the office like too look at them…But, I always seem to be the one they come to when they need a report, spreadsheet or anything else that someone in the office doesn’t know how to do…So, yes there is sexist in the work place against men in the administration positions…

By Richard

January 12, 2009 11:01 AM | Link to this

Apparently, some companies feel that to be in an Administration positions you have to be blond with boobs…Well not so fast, I have been this same type of position for almost seven year, and I’m having to start looking again, because of the type of company I work for. I like this gentleman have had the same problem…I’ve noticed the same sexiest type of attitude in the company I now work for, it doesn’t matter what some of the blonds know or do it’s just that the other men in the office like too look at them…But, I always seem to be the one they come to when they need a report, spreadsheet or anything else that someone in the office doesn’t know how to do…So, yes there is sexist in the work place against men in the administration positions…

By gg

January 12, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this

Richard: Speaking of “doesn’t know how to do”, you only have to hit the Post button once.

By Dale Dribble

January 12, 2009 11:22 AM | Link to this

I beg to differ.

I’m a man, an incredibley manly man, but I worked at Hooters as a waitperson.

Wingo!

By Liz

January 12, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this

I could have written this post. I went into the same temp agency in Smyrna. I know it is the same because I was treated the exact same way but I am a black woman. She didn’t want to take my resume and said they don’t let you fill out applications as a walk in. CRAZY!

By j rachels

January 12, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this

I’m ot sure why you are upset that you aren’t being considered for a dead end, never gonna get paid what you’re worth, have d******* humiliate you because they think they’re better than you, job. BTW- even if you did get hired, yo;d make more than a female admin. There’s no “reverse discrimination” here, bud. It’s your entitled tone that gives you away…no sympathy here.

By Female VP

January 12, 2009 12:05 PM | Link to this

I am a femiale executive with a male administrative assistant. He has been working for me for over five years. I have also had female assistants. I did not hire him because of his gender, and it made no difference to me as I was interviewing candidates. I must say that it is a bit humorous to me to hear a man complain about being discrimated against in his search for a low-paying assistant job. Does it occur to you, sir, that the reason why women typically get these jobs is because low-paying, service oriented jobs are traditionally the only jobs women have been allowed to fill? This agency doubtless assumed that as a man, you were overqualified. No one is discriminating against YOU…it’s leftover discrimation against women that we’re dealing with here. When we get to a point in this country that people don’t assume a secretary is a women and an executive is a man, everyone will benefit.

By o sympathy

January 12, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

Ironic. It’s sort of like a a pre-civil rights era white guy getting p** off because he couldn’t get sold as a slave. Not exactly discrimination, dude.

By GaNative

January 12, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this

I’m a consultant and I know for a fact that I’ve been let go while fine azz blue eyed blondes were kept around who didn’t have a clue. One more thing, they make great sales people too for getting guys to sign on the dotted line of a contract. A lot of college cheerleaders go into pharmaceutical sales where doctors just sign anything for eye candy.

By The ATL sucks!!

January 12, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this

The ATL if rife with perceptual discrimination…by almost everybody…period.

I am a highly qualified computer software specialist, do database programming, have a degree from a well respected liberal arts college. I worked as a contract employee with many staffing services for many years. I always found it interesting how enthusiastic the agencies were when the contacted me about my resume. They would assure me that they had many opportunities available for someone with my experience and skills. My name, alma mater and yes, even my address all conveyed a “perception” of my identity. Well, lo and behold, once I walked through the door and my race and gender became obvious to them, suddenly that perception changed…the opportunities evaporated…imagine that.

And this was not necessarily by white people, it almost always happened by people who looked just like me…black and female…imagine that…suddenly, the only opportunities available were filing and receptionist positions…none of which appear on my resume or in my work history.

People are qualified for jobs based upon education, experience and skill sets…not race or gender…but that does not seem to be the case in the ATL…go figure…but I have learned that the ATL still perceives place and position by the discriminatory criteria of race and gender.

By Female VP

January 12, 2009 12:41 PM | Link to this

GaNative - precisely my point. If we had more women doctors then the pharmaceutical sales rep-cheeleader strategy wouldn’t work anymore. As more women get better paid, professional jobs, there will be more room at the bottom for people like Gary. And the cheeleaders might get inspired to use their brains to make a living.

By dkjones3

January 12, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this

It is just as bad if you are over 50 and male looking for any type of job. Just because you get a certain age no one wants to hire you.
The same if you are female and have been in a ad. min job for years. If you are not young no one wants to hire you. Experience means nothing anymore.
Most of the younger ones do not have the same work ethics as us old folks

By bernard weston

January 12, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this

I feel that it is a challenge for females to reject the oppertunity to be a professional victim. Those females that earn equal or more than a men, have learned to “work it”. I have a college degree and I am a gulf war veteran and I earn less than my wife whom has neither a HS diploma or a college degree. Yet, she is very beautiful and I am crazy for her legs. My wife got where she is at due to her ability. Yet if she wanted to do the things that women do to move up the ladder….She surely could.

By GaNative

January 12, 2009 1:05 PM | Link to this

I feel your pain The ATL sucks, unfortunately for our field the vast majority of Corporations in the IT Industry think that nobody but Indians can anything with software. It’s no wonder the economy and country is in the shape that it is in. While you’re sitting at home unemployed, there is no revenue from you going to the state and federal government by taxation. But the Indians who have the jobs send them money outside of the country to their homeland. It’s only going to get worse before some of the executives realize that they’ve done a great disservice to the American Citizens. dkjones3, age discrimination is rampant for the over 50 bunch.

By The ATL sucks

January 12, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

@GaNative

The funny thing is that I have done 12 to 18 different job descriptions with my software background…from admin support, desktop publishing, data analyst, database programming, etc…my software skills are quite transferable.

What I found interesting is that once a face could be put with the person on the resume the attitude shifted to a downgraded list of available opportunities…I will not blame it on any group of people who are out there competing in the job market for opportunities…as I am also bilingual and I could market that skill too.

I still find that it is in the perception that people in the position to evaluate your resume and place you in those available positions have when they see the person the are trying to place. I have been in another area for the last year and a half in another state. There is a complete absence of the perceptual discrimination that I received in the ATL…I am actually evaluated by the experience and skills that I have listed on my resume, not my race and gender…I am more limited here by the lack of adequate public transportation issues than I am opportunities. And I will admit that it is quite refreshing to talk to a person evaluating my resume and to have that person take me seriously as a candidate for a position…a very different experience from the ATL.

By Noelle

January 12, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this

Women who work in a career, do not take time off for having children, who work the extra hours, and persevere earn as much as men!

No, they do not. Wage parity studies take all those factors into consideration, and women are still paid less than men for comparable work at comparable experience levels. Do a little reading before you spout off.

By Momager77

January 12, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this

I would have to agree with this blog. My husband, who is African-American and male, has faced this discrimination. I think men are doomed in certain fields. My husband is a medical assistant and despite the fact that there are typically an abundance of jobs in this female dominated field, he cannot seem to find a job. Obviously OBGYN offices are out of the question, but even when he worked in the prison system he faced over the top sexual harrassment mainly from the female nurses who are in charge in that setting.

By GaNative

January 12, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this

The ATL sucks, you can’t compete with people who are here on the H-1B Visa program. Corporations pay them less and there is less government paperwork and they get incentives for hiring them. The whole system is corrupt. They are only supposed to hire these people if they cannot find a qualified American Citizen to fill the position. It’s all Bull Shid.

By Roxie

January 12, 2009 2:10 PM | Link to this

Female VP Got this right. This isn’t discrimination aganist you. It’s puzzlement that a man would apply for such a low paying position that is so (modernly) pink collar.

Read Female VP’s words one more time

“Does it occur to you, sir, that the reason why women typically get these jobs is because low-paying, service oriented jobs are traditionally the only jobs women have been allowed to fill? This agency doubtless assumed that as a man, you were overqualified. No one is discriminating against YOU…it’s leftover discrimation against women that we’re dealing with here. When we get to a point in this country that people don’t assume a secretary is a women and an executive is a man, everyone will benefit.”

By Katie

January 12, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this

To By Staceye that posted: How many times do women get passed over for highly paid positions or promotions? Now a man wants to cry foul because he can’t get an administrative job??? Oh boo hoo! Try being a woman with a MBA in her field of finance and no one wants to see her head up their company because they are so ignorant? Her capability be dmned!

So right.

I don’t time to read all the comments b/c I own a small staffing co. where we place admins. It’s not up to the recruiter to get you a job, Gary. We are not customer service to the candidates, but to the client. Yes, the majority of our clients will only consider women for admin positions. How do you think many women feel with Ivy League degrees that have to start as an receptionist/admin when the men don’t? Get over yourself. Byw - discrimination laws are not for you. They are for women and certain ethnic groups, so if you are a white male, you are out of luck.
Why do the clients only hire women? They want someone they can push around - they want to feel superior and they don’t want someone who may come along and steal their clients and start their own business. Women are not perceived as a threat to take over - who is being discriminated against. Get off your butt and go paint houses or better yet, since you want a woman’s job - why don’t you clean houses?

By Jason

January 12, 2009 2:48 PM | Link to this

“Wage parity studies take all those factors into consideration, and women are still paid less than men for comparable work at comparable experience levels.”

Please cite your source(s).

By Cynisin

January 20, 2009 4:59 PM | Link to this

ATL is all about image regardless of the position for which you are applying. I’m an attractive thirty year old female but feel that I cannot get jobs right now because I need to lose about twenty pounds. I feel so degraded when I have to send in a headshot and full length body shot for every crappy bar and restaurant in Atlanta when I know that I have one degree and am almost finished with another one but am just struggling so bad that I will take anything that I can get. Looking hard for two months straight with still no end in sight. I would be on the streets if it wasn’t for my parents, and that makes me feel like crap because they are close to retirement. I should be helping them with income instead of them helping me. They just don’t want me to go back to my small town because it is so bad there that no one in town is working over a four day work week. Also a new business opened up there and they had fifty positions and over six hundred people applied. Wake up people it is bad everywhere!!!!

By LexusLikeMine

January 28, 2009 2:11 PM | Link to this

I am a big victim of harrasment myself. I have seen both men and women being victims of this though. So I try to take it with a grain of salt. I have seen women purposely doll themselves up to “seduce” a boss putting him in a bad situation, and I have seen men that are pigs. Go to church, people need Jesus! I know I need to at work…

By Windows System Admin

February 25, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this

I lived in Atlanta for 8 years and I am a white male that works in the IT industry.

The economy has been going south since 2001, but I found out that Atlanta compounds the problem x100 by the prejudice in their hiring practices.

I lived on south side of Atlanta (East Point) and did not want to do the horrible commute to the north side of Atlanta for work so I applied for jobs with the City of College Park.

I have 14 years experience in the field and they had a position open that I fit the qualifications 100%. I dropped off my resume in person…and after 3 follow up called was never even offered an interview but was told that the position was still open.

I was then given some inside information about College Park and Atlanta hiring practices for City Jobs….if you are not Black..don’t bother.

Racial profiling during the hiring process in Atlanta is alive and well…and I am very glad I have left.