Let’s face it, we’ve all been in situations where a pesky person just wouldn’t leave us alone, and we’ve had to lie our way out of it. Sometimes, if they have a bit ofself-awareness, they get the hint and leave. But it’s the ones who don’t that make for the most annoying stories.
A woman on TikTok shared the irritating moment when a guy kept pestering her with oddquestionsat work. She then told him an outright lie to get him to leave, and he ended up confronting her about it later on.
More info:TikTok
Image credits:Polina Tankilevitch (not the actual photo)
“I told everybody at work today that I’m pregnant. And before I even found out that I was pregnant, there’s this, I work in a lab, so it’s just, it’s all men”
“And I was like, ‘No’ and he’s like ‘then how did you go to college?’ I was like, ‘scholarships, and I have student debt.’ And he’s like, ‘oh, well, I was just saying, I was just asking,’ because he’s like, ‘I just don’t really understand how you got through college, then.’ Besides the point.”
Image credits:@martharoseyy
“Then he’s like, ‘well, because if you had that, then you can roll it over to the Roth IRA.’ I was like, ‘okay, well, I don’t have it.’ So end of discussion, right? Get out of my lab.”
Check out the original video here
As Martha shared in her video, she was the only ladyworkingin her lab. There was only one other woman who worked there part-time. One day a colleague came to her lab and began asking her questions about her education and how she managed to get through college. While questioning her about her college funding, he also tried to bring the discussion around to her future kids and how she should start a savings fund for them.
Many commenters also shared that they had similar experiences while working in technical fields. To understand why this was so common,Bored PandainterviewedDharti Adhia, a genetic counselor holding two master’s degrees in genetic engineering and genetic counseling.
Image credits:Camylla Battani (not the actual photo)
It’s also shocking to note that men and women in STEM fields are treated differently. Dharti shone a light on one of the ways this happens, saying: “there are professional status surveys showing that males in the field are often offeredhigher salariesfor the same job. Despite these challenges, I’ve also encountered a supportive community of women in STEM who have helped me navigate these differences and find success in my career.”
Another challenge that women in STEM face is the lack of adequate parental leave policies. An 8-year study ofSTEM professionalsfound that 4-7 years after the birth or adoption of their first child, nearly 43% of women left STEM jobs as compared to 23% of men.
It is, therefore, important for ladies in technical fields to share their stories and fight back against discrimination. Dharti shared some advice for women entering STEM: “Believe in yourself and your abilities. STEM fields benefit from diverse perspectives, and your unique experiences and insights are valuable. Seek out mentors and supportive communities to help you navigate challenges and celebrate your successes. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself and other women in STEM.”
People were understandably outraged over the annoying experience that the poster had to go through. The video got 2.2 million views and over 200k upvotes with many women sharing personal experiences of discrimination at the hands of male coworkers. What do you think of the way Martha handled the situation with the guy at work? What would you have done if you were in her place?
Work & Money
