Women and DEC

From: Bill Pechter <pechter_at_pechter.dyndns.org>
Date: Sat Nov 18 20:08:51 2000

> .From: THETechnoid_at_home.com <THETechnoid_at_home.com>
>
>
> ..>It is statistically interesting that the minority of women on the list
> >produce such a disproportionately large fraction of the quality traffic
> on
> >the list. Was DEC a particularly liberal company when it came to hiring
> >able women? This might be the beginning of a nice lesson in company
> >history.
> .
>
> Briefly, DEC and a lot of determination. I was in engineering for over
> ten years before that. DEC was a very good place to work. As was
> NEC (when they were in Wellesly and Natick). Some other places
> I have less fond thoughts of.
>
> The determination part is not new to anyone here, you find something
> interesting and you do it. That do it part is despite naysayers or
> other attempts to discourage.
>
> Allison

At least in my experience, the technical women in Field Service
(especially the one's in the mid 80's with more than 5 years experience)
were usually at least twice as good as their male counterparts and
worked their tails off to get their position -- not because of their
gender -- but in spite of it.

DEC Field Service was more of a meritocracy than some places, but at
times it could be somewhat of an old boy network.

But the GOOD women in DEC's Field Service were very, very good and also
tough enough to deal with the guys and guy attitudes and keep a sense of
humor and not whine. I wouldn't have survived without at least one or
two that aided me and mentored me along the way.

Twenty years this coming February ago I got into DEC. To paraphrase
the book title -- Everything I learned I learned in PDP11-new hire.

Here's to Jack Whitford, DEC training (wherever you are now) and the
great folks at 79G that taught me how to learn on my own, think on my feet and
survive the rate of change that this business requires.

Bill

-- 
bpechter_at_monmouth.com    | FreeBSD since 1.0.2, Linux since 0.99.10  
                         | Unix Sys Admin since Sys V/BSD 4.2
                         | Windows System Administration: "Magical Misery Tour"
Received on Sat Nov 18 2000 - 20:08:51 GMT

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