I was wrong...so wrong.
Instead of listening and learning (the usual position one would assume after asking a question), ol’ boy made it his duty to 'teach' my girl about her own work, because obviously he knew everything there was to know about biomedical engineering. He went on to downplay her work and make assumptions about what it was that he thought she did. He firmly stuck to his viewpoint without once considering that he might not know much about the topic. Being that the spirits were alive and well in our blood, I could tell this was not going to be one of those I’m-just-gonna-shut-up-and-let-him-think-that-he-got-it-‘cause-I-ain’t-got-the-time situations. I gracefully tried to play devil’s advocate to keep homegirl from completely ripping this guy a new one, yet and still, he would not acknowledge the fact that he really did not understand what she did. As this was unfolding, I couldn’t help but wonder if this dude would have been so bent on what he was saying if we looked a little different… Being a woman in a male-dominated field seems to come with at least one special individual (most often a male) that thinks he knows your life. You know, that guy that insists on talking about things that he actually knows nothing about (and heaven forbid you correct him). It would be one thing if he did this with everyone, but he doesn’t. It makes you question his motives. What exactly are you getting from paying so much attention to me?
What are some of your experiences as a black woman or even a black man in the STEM field? Let's get the conversation going!
N. LeKesia - STEM Freak. Systems Thinker. Aspiration Slayer. A tenacious servant leader determined to leave her mark in the nonprofit sector with a passion for service and STEM education, she aspires to increase the interest and confidence of underrepresented and underserved youth in computing and other STEM fields. She has contributed to LinkedIn Pulse and is the creator of MoreThanRubies, an inspirational blog aimed at providing encouragement and spreading positivity. Follow her @n_lekesia: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter