Christian Forums

I work in a seniors' retirement/nursing home in the dietary department.  This April will mark my 25th year there, God willing.  I have had many blessings there--it is a Christian facility--and like family my co-workers have seen the good, bad and the ugly of me over the years.

However, despite the longevity of my service there (of which I am thankful, especially during these difficult economic times),  every once and a while I get the desire/wish to work in a coal mine, steel mill, the military, fire department, basically anything that has a majority of men working there.  Why?  Because in the health care facility such as the one I am employed at the majority of staff are women.  We men are soooooooooooo outnumbered!  A small handful of men work at my place.  A cook, three maintenance guys (and a few part-timers), a couple of PSW's, but other than that I am drowning in a sea of women!

I am not trying to be sexist or offensive here--I just find that whether I like it or not it is a woman's world where I work.  It's like working with a ton of mothers, wives, aunties,--you get the picture.  There sure is a difference between the sexes that far exceeds our body parts, right?!

I once worked in an auto parts plant that made car parts for the major automakers.  It was primarily other guys and some women (most of them on the light assembly line).  I enjoyed that job, the plant and my co-workers were great...I have many fond memories of them.

Who would you rather work with, if you had a choice.  Men? Women? Both?  What are the pro's and con's of each scenario?  What would be your preference and why?

Oh, I basically get along with everybody--we don't fight although we can rub each other the wrong way--just like in family.  But some days--and today was one of those days--I was fed up with pretty much an all female environment.  I hope that I do not tick off anbody here with this opening thread--maybe I could have worded it better.

Anyone care to take a crack at this?

P.S.:  I am modifying this OP to include a detail I neglected to do.  I was upset that day at work. A co-worker that I work with closely had been taking advantagement of me in a number of things.  But to be truthful I let her get away with it.  Not good.  I should not be passive on the job.  I should have let it be made known that I was angered by her lousy attitude that day.  Seething about it did me no good.

The honest truth is I was discussing this with my wife last night and I came to a realization that there have been numerous times when others (yes, I am talking about my female co-workers) have taken advantage of me, have been disrespect to me, have showed some contempt towards me.  But to be fair there is a fair number who do not.  However, sometimes I just get so fed up with certainly attitudes.  I have zero problems with my male co-workers.  I am the same person with them as I am with the women.

I have been told by some of my female co-workers that they would prefer to work with guys.  They said that they would find it easier.  Too much 'nonsense' in the form of pettiness, jealousies, power struggles, etc.   But then again you can have that with other guys.  But for some reason I can tolerate that better--much better. But when a woman does not take you as seriously as her other female co-workers you can't help but wonder why.

Anyway, there you go.  I think that my preference is mostly men, some women.

My answer isn't one of the choices, I always preferred working alone.

Quote from: Jon-Marc on Sat Feb 14, 2009 - 16:41:37
My answer isn't one of the choices, I always preferred working alone.

Funny you should say that...that's what I was thinking while on my way to the gym.  So I've added it.

My husband works at a hospital with approximately 70 women and 1 other man on his floor and shift.   

You sound just like him.  :)

And for the record, personally I do not care who I work with but I have noticed one thing - men and women speak differently, handle problems and issues differently and focus on different things.  (Generally speaking)  If someone is not aware of this and able to speak in between the two, then it WOULD be hard to be in the position you find yourself in.

Loa

I voted for an equal number.  However, I wear a gun for a living and I have to be able to trust who I am working with to be job knowledgable, qualified in all areas of the job, capable of being able to take the life of someone in order to protect the vast population from the consequences of nuclear terriorism, be able to work as a team player while thinking on their feet, and many other things that are not just everyday traits for most people in the civilian population.  IOW, I don't care what gender they are if they know how to do the job and can be trusted to lay it all on the line for others if everything goes to you know where in a hurry!  We don't have as many women in our particular job site as we should but, then again, it takes a very special woman to do what we do.  Men tend to be more into this type of work than women in general.  However, I've had the priviledge to work with women whom I put total trust in over alot of the men our management seems to come up with these days!

Strawberry flavored.  Other than that, I prefer to work alone. I do know what you mean about working with mostly women.  Then you have to participate in all the little pot luck lunches, birthday parties, anniversaries, on and on....I'm just there for a paycheck.

love,

sopranette

Quote from: Mikeyjc on Sat Feb 14, 2009 - 17:36:34

Quote from: Jon-Marc on Sat Feb 14, 2009 - 16:41:37
My answer isn't one of the choices, I always preferred working alone.

Funny you should say that...that's what I was thinking while on my way to the gym.  So I've added it.

Thanks, and I voted.

I didn't vote because it didn't have my choice, I really don't care. There are too many situations I've been through in both enviroments to worry about it. I can tell you I'm not all that fond of working alone, unless I'm constantly busy because I don't like to be interrupted. My attitude has always been get your work done first, then play. So, if I have a lot to do I prefer to be left alone while I'm doing it.

Its interesting working among men where there's plenty of machoism, but I'm really not into that, and I find most men don't like my work ethic.

When men grumble about their wives, it doesn't sound funny, but overhearing women grumble about their husbands can be hilarious, although they don't often see it. I suppose its because I'm looking at it from a man's perspective.

The attitude of men towards women can be a little frustrating from time to time. Working in a newsagency I got a little tired of men sticking porn in front of my face and talking about the girl on the page [I think they did this sometimes because of my Christian stand], but it can also be a little disconcerting when a woman appears to forget you're a man, and decides, in front of the whole workforce that you need to see the bruise on her butt, or tell her if the lump you can feel in her breast might be cancer [maybe its Australian, I don't know]. I complained [that's not the right word, really] about it to a lady manager once, and she said, "Women must feel safe around you." I just said, "Yeah, its me who's terrified."

All I do in every case is remain friendly, politely refuse to get involved in certain situations, and hold on to my convictions. In this way I've found opportunity to witness to those I work with, and have even led some to commitment to Christ. Their respect for me doesn't even come into the equation, because I don't expect them to respect me [after all, I am a "christian"].

I don't know about a choice of enviroment to work in [even christians can be hard to work with], but I do prefer to work. I have been unemployed for periods of my life and, to me, that's the pits.

Quote from: sopranette on Sun Feb 15, 2009 - 06:31:15
Strawberry flavored. 

Whoa!!

I prefer to work alone.

I would prefer to work with a mix of men and women.  But!  As long as they are friendly, not overly competitive, not standoffish, not rude, and some of them are Christians, then I don't care!  Just make them nice and make them friendly and we will get along just fine!  I recently found out that one of my co-workers is a Christian, and I couldn't be happier!  Also, one of my co-workers used to be a Pastor.  He is still a godly man, just chose not to be a Pastor anymore.  I work in the Human services field, so maybe that's why some Christians are gravitating to that area (of helping others).  AMEN!

I work in an office completely alone and that's the way I like it.  IMO I am very fortunate.

Avenger 

I like working alone, I am not a fan of humans lol.  j/k.  But my condition you never know when I would blow up.

I work in an environment that has a blend of both. There are all different shapes, sizes, and colors. There are some from other countries. The atmosphere is corporate. I worked for years in construction and on many occasions I was alone. At my current workplace, I only talk to a handful of people.

There is a part of me that would like to return to the life that my parents had when they were young. I  would work by myself (maybe one or two others) on a farm growing vegetables along with some farm animals. There are times that I think I would be better off around cows, pigs, and chickens. Oh, yes and a horse of course. I would like working around farm animals. That would be the life. 

Quote from: sopranette on Sun Feb 15, 2009 - 06:31:15
Strawberry flavored.  Other than that, I prefer to work alone. I do know what you mean about working with mostly women.  Then you have to participate in all the little pot luck lunches, birthday parties, anniversaries, on and on....I'm just there for a paycheck.

love,

sopranette

I work with mostly women. I could care less what their current "party" is called...I'm still going to eat all their home cooked food haha.

But to answer the question...I am most productive alone. Working with either sex, communication happens which leads to non-productivity. Now granted, some communication (like meetings) are needed...but it doesn't change the fact that you aren't working when your talking/listening.

in the workplace I work better with men.

my blog:  link removed per forum rule 3.3.  External links cannot be posted until you reach a threshhold of twenty posts on GCM forums.

 I honestly don't think I have a preference. However I do when it comes to working with someone. I hate to say this but when a women is a boss she is far more likely to micromanage

Quote from: anchorman on Wed Feb 18, 2009 - 15:52:20
I honestly don't think I have a preference. However I do when it comes to working with someone. I hate to say this but when a women is a boss she is far more likely to micromanage

Which could probably be statistically proven based on the lack of female management in the workforce...and so striving to "manage harder" to stay on top. I don't mind micromanagement as long as my boss's ideas are not counter-productive to business.

Quote from: kristinaf on Sun Feb 15, 2009 - 17:30:11
I would prefer to work with a mix of men and women.  But!  As long as they are friendly, not overly competitive, not standoffish, not rude, and some of them are Christians, then I don't care!  Just make them nice and make them friendly and we will get along just fine!

I work from home now. Just me and my computer. I should have done it years ago. When I did work in an office, I was there to do a job, not to socialize or patronize other people's insecurities.