Women in Technology, the truth

Women in Technology

Thoughts from a women working in the technology industry for women coming into it

I have been working or studying the high-end technology field since 1998 when I began by designing websites for DARPA. Since then I have been involved in many stereotypical situations from functioning in an industry dominated by men and their linear mentalities. I want to first stress that the following behavior I am referring to is not true to ALL men however is most definitely the popular reaction and behavior. Unfortunately the behavior is proof of the rise of ignorance and continued promotion of men by men to enable an emotionally secure situation that does not involve women.

Below is the latest and very common handling of projects and ‘acceptable’ office behavior. I have noted this not because I am shocked or upset as I have made my piece with having to work for and with ignorant bullies. But instead I want to share this information with others to read so it is very clear that many strides have been made to equate women and men. We are not done and still, just like with the KKK, the ignorant ‘boys network’ is alive, strong, and growing.

In my position I have accomplished many things in the two years I have been at the small firm I work for in central ma. My accomplishments have been met with attitude, slander, and emotional tantrums in the office all of which have been ignored by the executive. Further when I have initiated a conversation with the executives about the behavior the response was that I should “stand up for myself”. When I do confront the ignorant males behaving this way the response is to loudly belittle me as a sensitive female as I object to being called incompetent by a mid-level manager while the CTO appoints me into more prominent roles with a greater responsibilities. Just a few of my accomplishments have included expanding the technology and generating more tools for the software development team, increasing production by 300% in 8 months, retaining customers creating a long term relationship, driving the sales team by taking on the responsibility of creating sales tools the marketing department is not able to do, and many other smaller projects.

I am hoping not to convince women to looking for other industries but instead to properly inform other women of the daily issues that will be faced while trying to function in the technology industry. The most important factors in the level of these issues are the corporate culture of the company, which is hard to understand with out being involved in companies daily activates. As there is no way to avoid these issues all together having discussions about the diversity of employees and makeup of the management team. Research is the best preventative strategy understanding the sad fact that people do not change. So if anyone has clearly been held accountable for behavior like this there is no doubt the behavior will continue.

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Timeline

4/18 Emailed that model was complete and exported

4/21 I QA’d the model, sent notice to Technical Lead and Modeler that model had passed QA about noon. Response from Technical Lead was told that Product was not on my schedule for the week and I should work on my assignments instead

4/22 Model re-exported.

Technical Lead informed me that I should now work on the model, no other information available. Animations done per my best guess as any direction was withheld and no information from the customer was provided.

4/23 Finished animation of model per the studio images as no other information was available and Technical Lead told me nothing. Instead barked from behind that I did not include animations that I was told to. Next learned that no content was available and no definitions of animations outlined in contract were available.

4/24 No information was available on animations or photographs of different configuration that the device was suppose to be animated into. Checked Customer website but there was no image there and none taken during photography. Involved Director of Operations, as I could not complete animations until this information was available. Sent list of needed information to Technical Lead …never got a response. Sent update before leaving for the day that animations were being completed per my conversation with Sales Executive, as it was the only information given to me. Finally got the content and current requests from customers from Sales Executive, as Technical Lead & Customer Service Manager have provided no information in response to many requests. COB 80% done.

4/25 Finished up animations per my interpretation of content form and my conversation with Sales Executive. Barked at from behind about customer requests I was informed about around 2pm while deadline was COB. Finished up animation QA and sent finished product over to Programmer for implementation 3pm. Response was that I had done something wrong animation the same part multiple times as bellowed across the office. At that point I went over and explained there were two parts that were essentially the same but one was 1” and the other was 2”. Next Programmer involved UI Designer whom had never communicated about any UI needs. UI Designer’s snotty reaction was to bark across the office that I “screwed up the template” to which I responded my multiple requests for information were ignored. The problem was easily fixed by pasting in a ui.jar file already created rather than having to recreate anything within the product tour. After a few minutes of arguing that I was not correct Director of Operations inserted himself into the conversation and both Programmer and UI Designer shut up long enough to try what I had explained multiple times was easily fixed by coping over a file and the boys tried it. After it worked I again attempted to return to my desk and continue work however was for a third time barked out by UI Designer who was now with a hand on a hip and swirling finger complained the background color was incorrect. To which I responded that I was never given a color value or access to anyone else’s files which is standard operating procedure. At that time I stopped work to explain to the meson programmer, Programmer, and the UI Designer that the background color in all meson models in defined in the mesonjar and again reiterated that none of this is the responsibility of a entry level technical animator. Regardless of the ignorance of employees or impotent communication ability of the Technical Lead any of these issues being raise less than hour before a deadline could not be more unacceptable. 3:45p I was sent content changes from Customer Service Manager.

Maybe it was the full moon

I drive to work on a daily basis I have MANY experiences on the roads of Metro West Boston. I am usually amazed at the driving decisions made by the general public which included almost being killed or watching someone else almost be killed on average 4 times a week. I have driven in 7 other states, including LA in California, and clearly Massachusetts is the worse.

On my way home on April 18 I was shocked while sitting at a light that had just turned green to watch two cars whom had the green light be crashed into by a car running a red light that did not even bother to attempt to use the brakes. Instead this car ran a red light hit the side of one car with so much force that both cars went into the other car in the intersection then went all the way to the cars stopped for the red light.

The most amazing part of the experience was that once the cars stopped moving the drivers all got out of their cars to asses the damage, one being a pregnant women (9 months pregnant—actually passed her due date). The cars around rather than stopping to help or even asking if everyone was ok started to honk because they could not proceed through the intersection. All the drivers got back in their cars and pulled to the side of the road to call the police and await their arrival.

NOT ONE PERSON got out to help the pregnant women or the man whose car was hit by the idiot who blew the red light. I went around the block to find a spot and drag the pregnant women out the street until the police arrived. Interestingly, the man who ran the red light originally asked everyone if they were alright but once the police arrived did not speak English anymore.

I have had many experiences since I moved to Massachusetts against the advise of everyone I knew because my thought was that people here cannot be as bad as the stories I have heard. So far in just over two years, I have been run off Route 2 heading west on 1/3/07 by a purple Jetta during AM rush hour traffic ending up 10 feet into the woods and no one stopped. I have had a hole drilled into my head by a dentist who then got verbally abusive when I complained about the pain. A landlord, Giovanni Caruso, whom refused to replace my stove that had been broke for four months and instead demanded rent then left the country for a vacation in Australia. (It was another two months before I got a new stove). Stuck with a neighbor whom, because he comes home drunk, leaves dents and scratches in my car then when I asked him to stop retaliated by threatening my 65-year-old mother while she was taking care of me after surgery to fix the hole that was drilled into my head. Woke up one Sunday morning to find that one of the local jerks decided to cause $1200 of damage to a 3-week-old car by scratching “Asshole James” into the back door. And finally, my personal favorite (note sarcasm here), while working for a small company in Maynard was verbal abused and physically threaten at my desk for doing nothing more than my job. The CTO thought it was funny that employee needed to be physically restrained and removed from the office and my manager told me “That people like me should learn how to deal with it”.

LESSON: If you’re not from MA and you don’t have the right last name….DON’T MOVE HERE!!

The ‘Masshole’ folklore is true, alive, and well.

Comcast caught lying &cheating AGAIN!!!

As one of the "little" people in life I have learned to review my bills carefully in order to ensure being charged correctly. In my ten years of recent experience I have ran into more improper or down right illegal billing with cable companies. And as the monopolies grow larger and stronger is important all consumers are aware of the liabilities of being their customer. Below is the most recent letter I have had to sent in this eight month long battle to not pay for services I did not get.

I have returned the modem via mail to Comcast on 3/31/08 to the Waltham customer service office on Main Street and will be sending you a check for the balance of my account that is correct. I did not include a check with the modem as the amount of the account is beyond reasonable or even the agree to amount of service.

As this the second account I have with Comcast where the billing of the account was excessive of the ‘’services’’ rendered I will not be paying for any cable television ‘services’ as Comcast was not able to provide service that worked for 24 hours. In fact Comcast still owes me a refund, as they demanded an excessive amount and in the last year and half (since 10/2006) have not refunded any money to me.

As each and every time I contact Comcast I am lied to, you (the collections agency) can do whatever you would like with this information. The fraudulent billing of Comcast has been reported to the appropriate Federal authorities so they are aware that Comcast’s standard operating procedures are fraudulent not only with regard to download speeds but also in their billing practices.

Any future contact regarding this account will be in writing as is my right according to the Fair Credit Act. Comcast was made aware of this in December of 2008 and in their failing to properly pass along information has created a situation where you are in violation of federal law. Furthermore Comcast was told in writing in January 2008 they had no authority to call my cell phone running up my bill because of their inability to follow through with agreed upon account adjustments. If you continue to contact me via telephone rather than via writing I will take legal action against you also. Seeing as your level of professionalism is exponentially above that of Comcast I highly doubt this will be a problem.

Common Health Mistakes I Learned to Avoid

These comment are a response to an article featured on WebMD and in Prevention magazine. I found this article in my WebMD email newsletter on March 24, 2008 called "The Health Mistakes Too Many Americans Make".

In my journey to become healed since a hack dentist drilled into my skull then jammed my jaw open to close the hole he made, I have dealt with numerous symptoms and a complex diagnostic experience. I have seen a number of doctors and found that although each did exert effort in diagnoses, the level of skill and effort varied.

For instance the hack dentist, who made the mistake, denied all symptoms and instead falsified records. Luckily my primary care physician was involved providing me a sound medical opinion who had the goal of healing not trying to avert a lawsuit like the hack. Still being a PCP and not a specialist, her advice was well meaning but sometimes lead me off course of a solution.

At the same time some of the doctors whom could not find the problem causing the symptoms at least took the time to share their knowledge enabling me to make better future decisions. This learning showed me how to ask questions and how to find the people to ask the questions of. Being forced to accept this slow progress and dribble of information I took the opportunity to learn more about anything that could be helpful, meaning alternative therapies or methods of chronic pain relief. Showing that Biofeedback is a better long term plan that a narcotic.

When the first crown the hack put on broke in nine days and I was forced to return to him under Delta Dentals threat of paying the full amount for a replacement, I learned later that my rights were violated. As at no time should any patient have to be treated by a butcher whom had already drilled a hole into my skull. Once the second crown did not fit, an acquaintance of mine was so concerned he took me to his dentist. Luckily the new dentist has enough of a heart and a great amount of skill to speak honestly in his second opinion. With the second opinion I sought away from the hack dentist it was proven to me that I am the only person who can get myself properly treated.

In solving the jaw alignment issues I was again left to seek out a proper medical professional that could instead of giving me pain medication could provide me with solution. With months of searching and even leaving the state for opinions of a doctor not scared my the Massachusetts unwritten medical rule of never admitting malpractice, one day at the physical therapist’s office finally was pointed in the correct direction. Living in Boston I am privileged to have a number of research facilities and medical schools, which after sorting through the ‘For Sale’ degrees at Harvard landed me at the Tufts Craniofacial Pain Center. Finally I found a physicians who was qualified to treat me and experienced with fixing the mistakes of hack dentists, I began to get proper treatment. As a result my pain has decreased by half and general quality of life has doubled as I not being accused of inventing the pain or having fibromaylasia.

Most importantly I have learned the responsibility I have to myself to ensure my quality medical care. Although I can in no way diagnose myself or prescribe medication, I can research ailments and doctors qualifications. This takes me into knowledge I can use to not only understand why I am in pain but whom can help me solve the reasons I am in pain.

Since ofcourse my case is being reviewed by insurance companies, one of their favorite issues are the number of doctors I was seen by. For the insurance companies it is an excuse to refuse their responsibility just as an addiction to narcotics would be. However this article and many others, prove that again and again persons who explore their illness and research all their medical options are the persons whom get the best medical care.

Bad Dentist Update...surgery fixes one of the issues

Since surgery…

After the surgery (on 4/3) the tooth area was throbbing and swollen but most of the swelling went down with ice over the first two days. Packing extended on tooth #1 and forward two teeth, most of the work was done between 1 & 2 where a hole is now that retains food even though there is no space between the teeth. For the first four days I was very tired and had trouble staying awake, napping after meals or even going for a drive. My right cheek was warm on Sunday and I continued to ice the area along with my jaw/neck muscles. Stiffness was through my cheeks down to my throat also in the back of neck also restricting motion. Pressure continues in my head but had decreased since the surgery. Drainage continued causing nausea but I kept eating plain wheat bread and yogurt once I could chew on Saturday. Ginger ale did not help with the nausea. The taste is horrible but after the first 24 hours did not contain blood anymore.

I went to work on Monday and was feverish in the early afternoon so I called the surgeon who gave me a ten-day course of antibiotics, which I am still taking. By Wednesday my energy level had returned and I was allowed to return to regular physical activity. My cheeks and throat are still full of tight muscles effecting swallowing. My neck is stiff with muscle knots causing a restricted range of motion and pain extending down my back. Still I am experiencing drainage that is not blood but filled with white sticky stuff.

The surgeon examined the site and was happy to see how well the surgical site had healed. I asked about the continued drainage was told that is “should clear up soon”. I have a dental cleaning next Friday and will speak with my dentist then. The surgeon did send a note to my regular dentist after the appointment. As every time I eat more food gets stuck under the crown on #1 yet there is no space between the teeth 1& 2, my dentist and I will discuss this during the cleaning.

And now we can another $500 on top of the over $12,000 that I spent last year to fix MY FIRST MA DENTIST's mistake.

Bad Dentist Update....it does get worse!!!

Well, the pain has not gone away since MY FIRST MA DENTIST drilled a hole into my head and then manually shoved my jaw closed. Most recently after over a year of PT on the jaw/neck/throat muscles recovering, an infection has now been found under the crown MY FIRST MA DENTIST put in my mouth. Granted this is the second one as the first only last nine days then broke into six pieces in my mouth while drinking coffee. As previously stated Delta Dental insisted I go back to MY FIRST MA DENTIST instead of a qualified dentist so they could save money.

Now I have had to be operated on by a periodontist who had to pull the gum away from the bone and scrap/drill the infected bone around the crown up to the top of my cheek and three teeth forward. As a result I have lost another two days of work plus another weekend I am restricted from normal activity. I am on a soft food diet for atleast a month as the jaw will take that long to recover enough so I can chew. Additionally I will have weekly appointment for PT again to enhance my jaw recovering so more time away from work for me that no one will reimburse me for. Most interestingly there is absolutely nothing wrong in any other part of my mouth. Oh yeah and the second crown MY FIRST MA DENTIST put in has been ground down so much it is half the size of all the regular teeth.

So all of this on top of my ears popping which started as the MY FIRST MA DENTIST held the drill making a hole in my soft palette. Resulting neck & throat pain because as it turns out the jaw connects to the spine between the top few vertebrate so any jaw issues instantly cause neck problems.

Grand total out of my pocket to fix MY FIRST MA DENTIST mistake: $12,478

Grand total out of MY FIRST MA DENTIST's pocket to fix MY FIRST MA DENTIST's mistake: $0

The Lesson:

1. Harvard & BU are horrid dental schools and DO NOT EVER go to a dentist who graduated from there without checking there references and asking many questions about post graduate training. Insist on looking at the diplomas or certificates the doctor has earned.

2. Get a referral to whomever you allow to work on your teeth

3. Any time a doctor or dentist makes any kind of mistake DO NOT believe their lies that you will be ok, instead RUN to the nearest hospital, take pictures, keep a pain journal.

MOST IMPORTANT

CALL A LAWYER !!!!

The majority of doctors today only promise to “do no harm” to their careers and income, not your well being.

** if you think this comes from anger then look it up yourself. Recent study release where doctors were surveyed and 80% of them admit to having witness or treated a patient because of malpractice of another doctor. Only 20% of that 80% ever stood up and said something, the rest just let the patient deal….the pain and expenses are considered the patients problem.