https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 08:20:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15924 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:06:19 +0000 eupenmalmody 15924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in the legal field - while there are definitely a lot more women than in other industries such as finance, I will say that there is still stupidity abound when it comes to women and having children. My boss immediately asked me if I plan on coming back to work after having the baby (employers are not allowed to ask this question), he hasn't understood why there are so many doctors appointments involved in having a baby, does not understand that I won't be on email while at the hospital having the baby, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15767 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:36:35 +0000 Adira 15767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm an engineer, so one of the few women around. It's definitely a male-dominated field, and my company is too, but luckily, it's a huge company, so there <i>are</i> other women that work here. Many women at my company work part time after maternity leave, so I don't think it'll be a huge deal when I'm expecting. But it'll certainly be strange since I'm the only woman in my office and then I'll be pregnant... guess we'll see how it goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15746 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:30:29 +0000 mediagirl 15746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left my last company because of my commute and because of the old boys club mentality. They hired another woman to take my place and that is still the only woman in that department. I now work for a company where I am one of two women. It's a family friendly environment and i am not afraid to let them know I'm expecting. Of course I'll probably tell just my boss and ask him not to say anything. I figure everyone else can figure it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15720 Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:00:26 +0000 looch 15720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also worked in finance and agree with both Andrea and Livsmama. I found increased issues with the "women belong at home" attitude once I moved to Europe, I had my boss's boss say to me that I should take time off to focus on being a mother. As an American I was stunned, but that is the culture here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15630 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:48:33 +0000 LivsMama 15630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in finance and hold a pretty senior position. Not only is finance male dominated, but my specialty is also hugely male dominated, so when I go to speak to clients Im almost always the only woman.</p> <p>Admittedly, it was a but difficult. I felt like I lost my identity a little bit. Before I was pregnant, I was the chick who knew my sh*t in my field. People asked about my background and we talked business almost 100% of the time. When I started unquestionably showing, around 7 months, it was like that was all they could talk about was the baby. It was actually pretty endearing to see these high powered finance guys talk about remembering their wives being pregnant and telling stories about kids.</p> <p>HOWEVER-rumors might fly. I told my boss first, then I told senior management (CEO, CFO) when I was about 20 weeks to assure them I would be back, and that if they heard otherwise it was a rumor. Sure enough, the day I told one person (who told everoyne else. I did that on purpose) people immediately came to me and speculated that I wasnt coming back. One manager even told me "yeah, my wife said the same thing, but when it came time to go back she couldnt." So some of them had no faith that Id return. </p> <p>The way I handled it was 1-stay ahead of the rumor mill, bc thats huge. I waited so long to tell them bc I wanted to prove to them that I was able to work exactly the same while pregnant...and I had been for 20 weeks. I had to fake a few nights out drinking, but I got the bartenders in on that. and 2-own it. Dont be ashamed to be pregnant. When people started talking about that for a little too long in the conversation, Id turn it back to business. Just let them know that you CAN still perform your job duties and carry on intellegent conversation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15588 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:26:25 +0000 tequiero21 15588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm not in a male dominated industry but i know lots of men who feel that way - that it sucks to hire women because they'll get pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15552 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:49:23 +0000 Andrea 15552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah, been told to my face by a trader that women should not be hired because they need maternity leave. </p> <p>The finance industry doesn't care that you just had a baby. I have found very little leeway and have had to really take a massive step down in order to work less hours since having my LO. But I would rather be able to spend time with my daughter vs having a nanny put her to bed every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15537 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:37:38 +0000 winniebee 15537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a lawyer at a lawfirm. It's pretty family friendly, but still a very male dominated field. I haven't announced my pregnancy yet....but likely will next week. Will let you know how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15519 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:38:12 +0000 junebugmama 15519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a vp for a fortune 500 company. I was the only female for miles and the youngest in an exec position by 20 years or so. There is lot of teasing that went on in the company that I worked for and every time they felt as though my "female" bitchiness was coming out there would be references regarding my hormones, please understand that this did not bother me, and I did not feel sexually harassed in anyway, a couple times jokes about me being pregnant would come up. As soon as we got married it became a great concern. When big projects would start I would be asked whether I was planning a pregnancy. It did change the way the men interacted with me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/working-in-a-male-dominated-field-pregnancy#post-15496 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:59:34 +0000 elouise 15496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, obviously from the title of this post, I work in a male-dominated field. I'm not pregnant/TTC yet, but I feel like this is one item that may be holding me back. I already feel like I'm isolated and stick out like a sore thumb, and I know pregnancy would just heighten those feelings. So, my questions are, if you are in this same situation:</p> <p>What challenges have you faced, if any?</p> <p>This is probably just me being fearful, but if you had the same fears... how did you deal with them? </p>