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Subject:Re: How does one overcome... From:Fabien Vais <phantoms -at- ACCENT -dot- NET> Date:Thu, 17 Jul 1997 12:31:51 -0400
I agree with Tim Merrick. There's no point in fighting the bias. Life is too
short for that. Just prove that you can do the job and move on.
I'm also disabled (physically limited...). Not much, mind you (I walk with
two canes), but it's enough to often cause some kind of discrimination to
come out in people.
This is perhaps why I like to work from home. This way, my first contact
with new clients is very often over the phone or via e-mail, and I have the
opportunity to prove myself without my physical appearance getting in the
way. Don't get me wrong, I am not a monstrosity, and I'm very active, but
for my work, I try to show off my experience and capabilities "before" the
client has a chance to see me in person, just to try to avoid an all too
common first impression based solely (or mostly) on physical appearance.
Has anyone else experienced any kind of discrimination based on "physical"
capabilities, as a technical writer?
Fabien Vais
phantoms -at- accent -dot- net
At 09:37 AM 7/17/97 -0600, you wrote:
>Pat Gantt wrote:
>
>> Please excuse my run-on but...
>>
>> during an interview situation for...
>>
>> let's say a technical writing position one is over qualified
>> for...
>>
>> how does a female overcome the "What could
>> a female actually know about tech. writing and
>> computers?" not stated but thought objection???
>>
>> An' please dun grade my Anglitch!
>>
>> at wits end...
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>>
>Pat:
>
>As a man, I cannot fully understand your situation. However, I am a
>disabled person and have faced similar discrimination. My strategy in
>overcoming such biases is to rephrase the question as "What do YOU (the
>applicant) know about technical writing and computers?" and then to
>answer that question. Gender bias (or any other form of discrimination)
>is based on generalizations. The effective response is to move to
>specifics. "This is what I know about technical writing and computers,
>and this is what I can do for your company." Don't waste time arguing or
>even worrying about the bias. Just prove it wrong.
>
>Tim Merrick
>Senior Technical Writer
>ILE Communications Group
>timm -at- ile -dot- com
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