I think I have been a member of this site for a few years now, only today have I seen any posts by other cable women. Mostly because I typed female techs in the search engine...and all of the posts were old - the newest one being 2010.
So, I guess my question is how alone am I in this industry? I have had the worst of the worst jobs, and worked my way up, gotten knocked back down, and worked my way up again. I have done grunt work - in the beginning while learning this trade, and been made fun because I am a woman in a "man's world". I have ran crews, had men who would not work with me because I am female, and all the while, I took every profanity that was thrown at me - of course, while throwing some back.
I have been cheated out of paychecks (not because I am a woman, but because sometimes I chose bad companies to work for). I have been threatened by co-workers (men) in the industry. I have been laughed at by nonpay customers - right up until I throw that ladder on the hard line and proceed to climb it. I have been told that I will never be as good as a man in this industry. I have been hit, punched, and pushed by volatile customers (mostly because I do 75% negative work), and co-workers who think they can treat me this way because I am a female. I have had my tires slashed, brake lines cut, windows broken out, and a sledge hammer used on my vehicle - sometimes by customers, sometimes by male co-workers. And I still stay in this industry because I am good at it and mostly because I LIKE IT (and I am stubborn and not a quitter)!
When will we, the women in cable, be recognized for what we are - hard workers who choose to do this job because we want to provide for our families, or because no other jobs are available, or just because we like the work???
What do the women in this industry have to do get the men off our backs?? We may not do our jobs like men do - with brute force strength, but I learned a long time ago to work SMARTER not HARDER! Is it so inconceivable that a woman can do installs, sales, vol discos, and nonpays and be good at it?? I am happy to work my 10 hours a day and see my $1500(+ or -) paycheck. Beats being stuck in an office or worse stuck with NO job at all. Back in the good old days of cable, 5-10 years ago, I remember that same amount of work would be a $2000 or $2500 week. Not so much anymore.
The company I work for now, especially the manager (male) has made me rethink my career in cable. My manager is great! He is always supportive, and never uses my gender against me. I am treated like everyone else on the team. He has the same expectations of me that he has of everyone - get your damn work done, and do it right. How freaking hard is that??
Anyway, I am done with the soap box, so if anyone else wants to step up on it, go for it!
Females in the Cable Industry....
Member #: 45787
Registered: 4/23/2006
Posted:
80
Name:
NoKBull
Name:
Andee Carter
Company:
Independent Contractors
Occupation:
Tech
Location:
Michigan
Personal:
late 40s
Experience:
~20 years
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