So other than the OP and another user, we've had no replies that make good on the original question. Nice work, gals.
Hello, my name is Sosa, I've been working in kitchens for the past three years - two on the line, one in the pit. After two cases of sexual harassment and one nervous breakdown, I've realized that I want to a chef one day. Not a good one, a great one.
Day-to-day working experience? Well, it's varied so far. One of my pet peeves is when I try to show male coworkers a technique or trick I've picked up and they're openly dismissive of my advice and continue in their backwards ways. Lo and behold! A higher-ranking cook (so far, always male) walks by, gives them the same advice I gave them beforehand, usually with a deprecating remark, and walks away. Sorry bro, I guess if I had insulted you while giving out advice, things would've gone a lot smoother for the both of us. I'm not saying I know best, but it bothers me when I try to act positively and share what little knowledge I do have with others only to have in thrown back in my face.
I'm a black anglophone (English-speaking) woman working in a male-dominated field in a (or should I say "the") francophone (French-speaking) province. I've described myself as an ethnic "cube" before. What the hell does that have to do with anything? Nothing in my mind. Yet sometimes I can't shake the feeling that I'm in Bizzaro Land, and when I do the best work I can, it's not recognized as such, and when I slip up and make mistakes, sometimes I feel like I get the lash doubly hard as other coworkers would.
There was one point when I became self-destructive over this, but at some point I also came to the conclusion that this world is full of jackasses. And it might take me a while for these fools to recognize what they're dealing with, but one day, it'll be undeniable, even to the most dense of them. And that thought keeps me going.
I've been described as "macha" - the female equivalent of "macho" by an associate before. Does it show through my post? ^_^
All that being said, I am a rocker of the double X and damn proud of it. Well, as proud as you can be of a random genetic assigning. Which in my mind equates to being a pretty empathetic, sweet, and sensitive person... without taking other's manure. Well, as much as I can help doing so. I feel like this job requires of fair amount of shit-eating/grinning & bearing it. Any thoughts?
Oh, and sometimes when I'm on the line, it takes all the mental strength I've had not to kick a coworker in the cajones.
Example:
Myself: "Hey, what are we are we going to do about XYZ?"
Coworker: [grunt... I'm not joking]
Myself: "Uh, so what are we going to about XYZ?"
Coworker: [more grunting]
Myself: "Yeah, so I'm going on a smoke break right now, be back in 5."
The thing that keeps me going so far is that it seems to be getting better over time.
Oh! And I'm a knitter too. Absolutely need music to keep sane. I like my bike, his name is Charles. I've had a brief taste of the Muay Thai and I LIKED IT VERY MUCH. Also, I like stupid movies, especially if they're framed by a TV show that's hosted on the "S.O.L." +10 points to the first person that gets the reference. These are a few of my favorites things. Other than food, duh.