I'm just a girl - silly me! How will they take me seriously at work?

I do not know how to behave in the work place. I'm a girl but you are expected to behave like a man.

When Im at work I act competitive, unemotional and much more aggressive than I am naturally. I feel like I am not being myself but I am scared if i act like a girl in the workplace i will be walked all over.

So instead I always dress quite rigidly - pants and shirts and act emotionally cold.

Is it possible for a girl who acts feminine in the workplace to be taken seriously in a male dominated industry?

Diamonds ... you will be taken seriously in a male dominated industry IF you know your stuff and do the job quickly and correctly. As far as "acting feminine" ... I'm not sure what you mean or how you define that. Just stick to the task at hand ... and watch your back. Build a team around you ... in time it will be possible to identify co-workers who are team players.

Seems like a simple answer, but your position is tough ... I know. I graduated in 1980 with a degree in Computer Science ... one of about six women in the class, and at work ... all men. I was young ... they wanted to treat me like a daughter, kid sister, etc. I didn't let them, but I wasn't unemotional. I joked, but ignored the sexual comments or glared.

You must be aggressive ... it will become one of your tools ... understand? Competitive? Well, maybe ... depends on the situation. I preferred teamwork and staying with the company's trends.

Worry more about meeting your supervisor's expectations than what the co-workers think. Sounds like you are dressing correctly and that is a big issue, but you don't have to be emotionally cold. Just be serious about your career and the task at hand.

BTW, I retired very early as Director of IT for a large corporation supervising 14 and handling over 525 computers and seven networks. You can reach me at gjb1066@yahoo.com

Be yourself, professional, intelligent, positive and hold your ground. The worst thing you can do is act weak, timid and vulnerable. You don't have to act like some trojan, just be good at your job and don't take any crap. There is a balance, but you'll have to find it depending on the nature of your work and those you work with.

Of course, it is possible to be feminine in the workplace. Just be yourself, "don't try to fit in". I worked in one place for 25 years, and there were so many personalities you had to "fit into in". But that doesn't work. You are you. I took all the classes,
How to to be assertive without being aggressive. It doesn't matter. You do your job well, you get along with everybody, and everything else will fall into place,

Glad that you asked this question, It's much better to dress like a lady hey even a skirt just obove the knee with the better looking more costly hose and heels would be the way to go.
And the make up done right... will pull it alltogher...
Look at some nice tops but don't show any you know whats'
but have it form around them nicely... You'll be taken seriously and you might get some comments or comments behind your back but they will be saying I'd like to be her boyfriend he's a lucky guy,. Be a woman also be mannered as a Lady. it never hurts to turn a few heads. Be alot more relaxed don't compete because you'll have the men wanting to do more for you.... do it girlfriend!!!!! you'll see Heels are nice remember.... You go... !!!!

I work in a male-dominated field myself. There are very few women who do what I do. I can't even name one right now. Anyway, all I do is my job as well as I can, which is better than a lot of the men I have worked with. I go above and beyond what my manager asks of me. I do NOT dress in a feminine manner, but this is by choice, not by feeling I have to do this. I stay out of "office politics" and "clicks" and don't gossip or start rumors or hang out with anyone at work. I keep to myself pretty much, do a really good job, and only care what my manager thinks of me. After all, work is work and if you have to be aggressive for others to see your worth, that is THEIR problem. If the tension is too much, you know you do a good job, and someone else will know, too, so look for another job if they don't respect you. You would be surprised how differently some places treat women. Particularly if they are based in another country and have people of that nationality as management.