23F, I’ve been in the IT industry since 17 years old (Internship days) and being a woman in the IT industry really is tough.
I started out as an intern for desktop engineer and I was assigned to a data centre site. We were required to wear formal clothes and I did. I wore long sleeve with grey office pants. My manager commented on how I should ‘only’ wear office skirt. I got taken aback from what he said and voiced out to him on how I was more comfortable with what I’m wearing. My manager just sighed and said ‘Girls like you shouldn’t talk back and just listen because it’s for your own good’. I just kept quiet and continued with my work.
Another incident was I was assigned to a business hotel as a desktop engineer. My job was to look after the data centre residing in the hotel and when guest complains about their wifi, I would need to report to their rooms and check the APs in the ceiling.
So, I was called to check the wifi on this ang moh guest room and when I went to his room he was half-naked with only a towel covering his lower half. I tried not to think much about it and took a chair, climbed up to reach the ceiling and check the AP. While I was trying to reach for the AP, the ang moh grabbed my S and tried to pull me down to bed with him. Thank god I am quite strong for a girl and manage to resist and pushed him away to escape. I reported the incident to the management and they took action. After that incident, I resigned on the spot.
Theres a couple more incidents I would like to state but it would be too long.
I just want to raise awareness for women in tech. Never let your guard down and don’t ever let anyone be it higher position than you, say that you should just do admin jobs.
I hope this will bring empowerment to women who need it.
Especially those who are or have experienced what I had.