July 24, 4:31 am
Gender stereotypes in the workplace are far from healthy, yet they persist
The only good news about the persistence of gender stereotypes in the workplace is that psychology doctoral students can still choose this topic for their dissertation. Other than that, such archaic perspectives should have gone the way of the dodo a long time ago.
Alas, they’ve not.
A study released July 17 by the nonprofit organization Catalyst indicates that “gender stereotyping creates an environment in which women are overlooked for top positions—regardless of the strength of their credentials.”
It seems that women leaders are given very little middle ground. Become assertive and they’re perceived as too tough. Remain focused but personable and they’re perceived as too soft. It’s practically a no-win scenario.
An article by Rebecca Hastings at SHRM.org quotes the Catalyst report, saying “Gender stereotyping, one of the key barriers to women’s advancement in corporate leadership, leaves women with limited, conflicting and often unfavorable options no matter how they choose to lead.”
You’d think we’d have found a cure for this nonsense by now.
Don’t we wish. Unfortunately, it seems that such stereotypes are ‘programmed’ while people are quite young. Hastings quotes recent research by Ross Flom, assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at BYU. Apparently, “boys and girls begin to think about and discriminate gender stereotyped activities by their second birthday.”
With that amount of inertia pointing the opposite direction, a LOT of cognitive effort will be needed if we’re going to even begin to make more headway on this issue.
Yes, it will be hard work, but we can’t abandon the effort. Workplace excellence demands that we follow through.
Filed in Business, Management, Leadership, Workplace, Corporate Culture
It’s a sad thing to learn that these stereotypes still exist. I own my own business and have for 26 years now and invariably a delivery or sales person will ask me if the boss is in - can I leave him a card. I used to get annoyed now I just smile and tell them I’ll give it to him and then proceed to toss it in the circular file.
It is no wonder that the candidates for President are judged differently by their sex. The male candidates are perceived as strong, decisive leaders while the female candidate is harsh, shrill, emotional and indecisive. I wonder what it will take to end this double standard - maybe electing a woman President?????