I have an experience from my work that I would like to share that correlates with the information learned in this course:
I had a conversation with my boss the other day at work that immediately made me think of our Gender Comm class . Earlier in the day she had been approached by a female co-worker who had approached her in an assertive manner. The co-worker was confronting her about a matter that had seemed to fall through the cracks. I was not present for this, but my boss retold the story of what happened to me. After telling me the whole story of the confrontation my boss said that "She is so bitchy, and God help anyone who gets on that woman's bad side." So after things had died down I had some time to think. If this would have been a male co-worker would my boss have felt the same way towards him? Or, if it had been a male co-worker, would it be expected behavior? I think this goes along with information we covered in class that when women are assertive and taking charge they are thought to be a bitch. However, when men are assertive it is a quality to be praised and recognized. Reflecting back, I honestly believe that if it had been a male co-worker who had approached my boss, I probably would have never even heard about it because that kind of behavior is not condemnable for men.
Please leave any comments if you would like! Thanks!
4 comments:
I completely agree with you on thinking that just because it was a woman that your boss said those things. Along with being unprofessional, it's clearly seen that the concept we learning in class, invisible hand discrimination was clearly at place. Is there anything we can do to change this behavior? Or is it already so set in our society that it will continue to be this way?
In my interviews for our paper, I interviewed the five men from different generations and the four oldest all agreed on something they called a double standard. They all saw women as equals in the workplace, but also agreed that its ok for women to stay feminine in the workplace, that they'll be just as respected. A friend of mine argued that women can't stay "feminine" in the workplace because nothing would get accomplished becuase "feminine" in society's eyes is a passive female who won't speak up or out against anything. I thought it was quite interesting that all the men I talked to agreed that women are equals, but shoudn't try to act like men being aggressive,assertive, and outspoken because it makes them look bad as employees. So i guess there is some truth that times haven't changed much from my 85 year old grandfather to my 22 year old roomate. Women are still held to a doublestandard and I don't see things changing anytime soon.
I think that it is rediculous that women are considered in such ways in the workplace. I have been looking around for jobs and have realized there are several work environments that reflect this conversation. The only problem is that women are dealing with glass cielings and glass walls. Women are fighting glass cielings because they aren't given as much oppportunity for advancement because they are women. Women experience glass walls because they are put in "feminine" positions like secretarial positions. I visited a company today and was disgusted by the gendered set up. I was greeted by the secretary who was 60 year old woman. She had been in the position for decades. I was then given a few overview questions by another secretary, another lady who had been at the company for decades who asked a few pre questions before the manager came in. The manager was male, as wast he owner, and every other superior postion in the company. Needless to say I won't be returning for another visit.
I completely agree with you. I highly doubt you would have heard anything about the conversation had it been a man instead of the woman. This actually reminds me of a similar story my sister told me. She is an architect, which means she’s working in a male-dominated career field. She explained that it is completely acceptable for a man to be assertive. But in order for her to be taken serious she too must be assertive. The conundrum is when she is assertive her co-workers comment that she’s acting “bitchy”. So she can’t win.
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