dragonoflife | (no subject)

Current Location: work

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(no subject)

Today I was the victim of gender discrimination at work.

As pretty much everyone who knows me should know, I have long hair. And Oh Em Gee I am a *guy.*

Now the hospital dress code technically requires that hair longer than the collar must be worn back. Many of the nurses and other employees flout this rule constantly, and observing them getting away with it, I did the same, in expectation of... well, exactly what happened.

True to expectations, of all the people here who ignore the rule, who do the higher-ups in the administration inform my director to talk to about?

Everyone spread the word: UPMC Shadyside discriminates againts its employees based on gender.

It may be trivial, but it isn't a joke.

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If you care about it, report it.

I already told my director about it. She agreed, laughed, and wandered off. This is about the level of support I expect from any level of the process. Being as I'm only working here a few more months anyway... well, I *care*. But my time and energy are better spent on other things that are more likely to be productive for what I really *want*.

It is an unfortunate surrendering of *principle* to practicality -- but practicality in the service of a higher princple. In other words, being with

tigerphoenix is more important than

If given preference, I'd rather try to start an internet firestorm. That would be much cooler.

...Finish sentences before posting comment, self.

Being with

tigerphoenix is more important than a crusade for justice over what is a relatively minor thing. Admittedly I'm not comfortable saying, "I will let this injustice pass," but pursuing it would lead to grief for someone I love.

What, would you have to stay there longer or something? Because you know me, if you really want to do this, I'd support you.

It would involve spending a hell of a lot of energy to make people care about something trivial -- and it would probably jeopardize any references I wanted to get from here. The latter is more important, because I need good references.

Stupid idiots! I would fight, personally, in as polite a way as possible. I'd write to the administration about my confusion over the issue, seeing as my appearance is similar to so many other people in the system. I would ask them to clarify the issue to everyone because of the rampant confusion. I would only ask for references from my director, who has no problems with it, and would have a much better idea of my performance than any administrator.

Alternatively, I would threaten the administration with legal action. This would probably make them shut up really quickly. Then I would just get my references from my director.

Alternatively, I would ignore the complaint completely and just get my references from my director. I can't believe that the administration gives a rat's ass, they're just responding to some random complaint, and if no more complaints come in, they won't care why not.

I would NOT pull my hair back. The asshole who complained would get way too much satisfaction.

Of course, my favorite live-action character/id representation was Claws-of-Gaia, and you may not want to take lessons in diplomacy from the person who played her.

Well, I have to pull my hair back. The person who noticed is high up enough and just plain dumb enough to make my life hell over this. You know the sort -- the one who blames everyone for everything and never contributes, whose sole management purpose is to yell at other people and has the power to make them miserable.

However, they also won't do this directly, but go through my director -- eseentially ordering her to write me up, etc. Obviously not an position my director would appreciate me putting her in.

Unfortunately it's way too easy for the responsible person to cover her tracks just by claiming she didn't see any other people with their hair down that day. It's obviously false bull, but not provably so. Which puts me without much recourse, and thus why I say pursuing it would be less productive than other paths I ought to be taking right now.

At least wear a barrette with plastic pearls and lace...

I WILL BE SO PRETTY.

Now I actually want to buy you one of those, just to see you wear it.

I've heard of women who have a thing for straight guys in drag, but I've never seen anyone admit to it before...

Well, I'm not sure a pretty barrette is necessarily drag, but...

Can't have Dragon without 'drag'!

*whimper*

...whimper?

Well, you're the one who coined that phrase, I'm laying it entirely at your feet.

I have an image in my head of you being forced to wear women's clothing against your personal preferences. It involves you covered in bad makeup looking miserable. I whimper in commiseration.

Of course, for all I know, you would prefer to dress in drag. In that case, you wouldn't be miserable, and would warrant no empathetic whimpering.

Take pictures of women at work with their hair down. Discreetly. With their permission if possible.

File a formal grievance form, and keep a copy.

Then let the matter drop for the reasons you listed earlier. Now there is documentation to back you up if something happens down the road. People can "forget" conversations. It is absolutely illegal for them to do anything to you in retaliation for filing a grievance. The more incidents you document, the easier it will be to demonstrate to HR (or a lawyer, though it probably does not need to go that far) that A) you were mistreated, and B) you were mistreated in reaction to your complaints about mistreatment.

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