When discussing this term in class it is seen as the invisible barrier that limits women's advancement in the workplace. I have a friend that works at a restaurant here in Lincoln, when she inquired about advancements in managerial positions she received an interesting reaction. The language that was used when addressing this type of position was "he" will have these qualities and "he" will have this experience. She asked the manager why they kept saying "he". She informed her manager about her possible aspirations of obtaining a higher position within the restaurant. The manager asked her if she planed on having a family and children some day, she replied yes. Then the manager laughed and told her that at this restaurant women never make it to higher management if they have a family.
I found this conversation interesting because she is the type of worker that wouldn't let family get in the way of career success. It is interesting how language can shape your perspective of a topic. All to often I have found myself using gendered terms regarding certain careers.
9 comments:
Oh my goodness!!! Okay, first of all, did the manager ask this woman about a family in an interview??? If so, that is totally an illegal question...he has no right to ask her that!!!
I don't understand why women have a stigma in the workforce if they have a family. Don't the husbands contribute as well with having a family and raising one?!?!?!
Wow...that pretty much sums up my thoughts over this issue. I have worked in a restaurant since the age of 16. During those years I've been hired by female employers who have been married, had children in high school or in college, and they have been able to run a restaurant very successfully. However, their husbands were also part of running the restaurant with them. Nonetheless, the female had a large part in making sure things ran smoothly in the business and in their home lives.
It makes me so upset to hear these words said to a female. He was completely out of bounds with the comment and I agree, had no right to ask her that question. Nonetheless, the male, especially in today's society is becoming more commonly seen staying home while the females carry out a full time career. While these roles are being shared I don't see why it would be "impossible" for a female either with plans to have a family, or with one, to carry out a management position. This manager appears to need to get caught up in the changes in today's society.
Wow. That's terrible. That manager should be fired. You can't ask a person if they're going to have a family in an interview. Anyway, it doesn't matter if she wants to have a family or not. There are several women out there who are extremely successful and have several kids!
I agree with princess also. Men have an active role when it comes to raising families too!
Actually I don't thin nk that the manager can ask that question at all if it's a discussion about job advancement. Boy, would I be hopping mad if that question had been asked of me. Because of my mother's experience working to support my brother and I and what she edperienced as job discrimination: unequal pay and advancement opportunities, I have learned that you simply don't answer question like that. Being vague can have its advantages. (Wow, I can't believe you asked me that question, it's not something I've ever thought about.)
It's interesting to see the gender/work discrimination we talk about in class played out in real life situations. I believe that this young woman should report her manager for gender discrimination first of all. Secondly, I hope that someday we can work toward a conversation where her qualities and abilities are discussed rather than her future familial plans.
I am a firm believer that a woman with a family is entirely capable of having a very successful career it is the lack of motivation that will hold women back, not their families. I can honestly say that I never saw my own mom growing up because she was entirely devoted to her career, but at the same time she taught me how to be successful and driven. I think it's mothers like these who will someday change the nature of employment.
I work at a resturant now nad have worked in many resturants and had many female managers. Why is it the female that has to be at home and not the male!!!!
That was extremely unprofessional of your friends boss!!
It is very easy to idealize work place situations it class, however glass ceilings, and gender discrimination are very prevalent in America's ecconomy. Many people haven't gone to school to learn with ways to cope with gender differences in the workplace. This is an excellent example of the glass ceiling, but also an excellent example of how many women can be discriminated against even before they have a family, and why there is a growing gap of backlash between the haves and the have nots (kids and no kids). The Family and Medical Leave act protects your job but it does not protect your rights to a promotion.
What's really interesting is that he asked her if she was going to have a family. Many men also have families, but this plays no role in the employers decision. This employer is reinforcing the negative gender perceptions that women are the primary caregiver for their family. What would happen in this workplace if a man requested paternity leave?
This is completely inappropriate and what kind of company openly states they don't support EEO laws, which prohibit discrimination against race and gender. This is very sad because it leads me to believe we have not come very far for 2008 if companies still are only hiring males for management positions.
This reminds me of the comment in class a few weeks ago about the "new manager" coming to the south Lincoln Wal-Mart. There seemed to be quite a bit of talk for what we were told in class about how the male empolyees talked her (the new "female"maganager...oh yeah spotlight that please) down and bad mouthed her before she was even there. This guys seems to be doing the same thing with less words. Badmouthing a female manager before she has even had a chance to show her strengths.
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