Monday, August 9, 2010

I AM NOT A SECRETARY

Every time I start out at a new place, I get mistaken for a secretary (or an undergrad, but I'm starting to get old...).

Today, some guy barges into my office (even though I had 1 cm of door ajar), and demanded to know where Professor So and So was. I calmly asked him to go ask the undergraduates that man the front desks, and the man still wouldn't leave! I had to escort him out of my office and point him to the front desk.

Do I look like a secretary? Oh wait... I forgot. I'm a woman. Therefore, I couldn't possible be a gen-u-wine professor. I must be a card-carrying-index-filing-coffee-making-bitch of a secretary who happens to write a lot of research proposals dangit.

6 comments:

Marianne said...

I used to work with a PhD chemist that wore a skirt, blouse, and high heels every day. I thought that she was a secretary for several weeks because I couldn't imagine anyone wearing that and working in the lab.

Unbalanced Reaction said...

Suuuuucks. Do you have titles on your door by any chance? I'm guessing not. At my former institutions, we all had "Dr." in front of our names. At my current place, no one has their title on the door, and I get mistaken for the departmental secretary all. the. time.

Genomic Repairman said...

Just say they died in some horrible sorority blowjob massacre. I doubt there will be any follow up questions!

Janus Professor said...

Marianne - you are too funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermitage said...

I get mistaken as the package delivery girl because she's the only other commonly seen minority in my building. Never mind I've been here almost three years. Every time I go retrieve my packages the secretaries, other grad students, and the fedex guy immediately stat complaining about something 'I' failed to do regarding package notifications or some shit. So annoying.

What was I saying? Oh yea, I feel your pain!

Zuska said...

Why must you all insist upon Doing Science While Other? It confuses everyone!!!!! Can't you help a d00dche out? Make the coffee, run the gel, deliver the package, pipette the well. See? It's not so hard!!! Just put in a little extra effort 24/7 to keep up the comfy d00d privilege level, is all they're asking.