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The original was posted on /r/twoxchromosomes by /u/ChannelNo3398 on 2023-09-30 18:17:32.
I work at an international company with offices around the globe. This is also a highly male dominated workspace. There are maybe 30 women worldwide in this company, and only 3 women of color. This is out of thousands of employees. This is also not an entry level workplace. Most folks here have earned their way to even have their applications seen let alone to score an interview.
Of those three women of color, I have risen to a pretty high position despite the massive amount of sexism and racism. I’m one of the best employees here, but also given less than half of the opportunities. I’m told it’s because I’m just “not a good team fit” for most special projects.
That is until the client just so happens to be a POC. Then they make sure I’m nice and visible.
I managed to be selected for a high level special project. While I’m not the project lead, I am the second in command with one of our largest and most lucrative clients.
Last week, the project lead no called no showed to a very very very important meeting. This presentation was for the client and they simply didn’t show up. They later sent a message saying they “needed time to themselves” and that “ OP can handle it”.
Ten minutes. He sent this message ten minutes before. I was in charge of a part of the presentation to do with the technical aspect of the job. His was about the roll out. I opened the file to see that while his presentation was done, there were glaring errors. I reported this to my team, was told to fix it, and they’d deal with him later.
I do the presentation and knocked it all the way out the park. Client signed on with the deal, huge bonuses all around.
I then find out that management credited our no show dude with pulling the team together to do a great project…
Today, I received a phone call stating that due to his screw up, they fired the project lead. Rather than promoting me, they brought on a brand new team member to lead.
Ok fine.
But then they said this:
“We need to make you aware that this new lead does not work with females. He prefers an entirely male team.”
… uh… ok… well. I’m very much so a woman who earned her place here. Sooo….
“Well. He has already asked for you to be removed because he is uncomfortable. We told him no, but we do believe that he may try to find things wrong with your work to remove you. He is going to fire you, just don’t take it personally. He just doesn’t work with females.”
I was enraged. I told them about how I saved their collective behinds. About how the last guy screwed his team over and I saved us. That if he’s the problem, he should go. That they’d never tell a male employee that he was expendable. How is it I can be incredible at my job, but my worth spots at my plumbing and my worth peaks at his intolerance.
What’s worse? This gig is on commission. I’ll lose not only the bonuses, but also future income.
I’ve spoken with the attorney equivalent in our country and they’ve already said that if he blames it on my work and doesn’t explicitly say he didn’t want a girl when he tries, they can’t do anything.
The company has thrown their hands up because he’s experienced. My team thinks it’s terrible but they’re afraid of being let go.
I’m now knocking on a door that’s been shut, not because of my work but because of who I am.
So yea. Happy Friday