Double standards for men and women in the workplace?

Is she too strong? Too pushy?

Instead of a lawsuit, I say highlight double standards in the workplace. People will decide what is not acceptable behavior. Public opinion brings rapid changes, and that is what I anticipate. -Nancy Clark

In the Harvard Business Review, Nancy Nichols writes: “Women who try to fit into a managerial role by acting like men… are forced to behave in a sexually dissonant manner. They risk being characterized as ‘overly aggressive’ or, worse, simply ‘ malicious'”. .’ However, women who act ladylike, speaking indirectly and showing concern for others, risk being seen as ‘ineffective’.”

Women have been caught in a double bind. We are not part of the number 1 team in business: the men’s team. That is the situation we have today. Let’s not complain, that will not give us progress. Let’s break it down and see where we can take a few more steps. Kathleen Hall Jamieson tells us: “Links draw their power from their ability to simplify complexity.

Faced with a complicated situation or behavior, the human tendency is to divide and dichotomize its elements. So we contrast the good and the bad, the strong and the weak, for and against, the true and the false, and in doing so we assume that a person cannot be both, or something in between. Such distinctions are often helpful. But when this trend leads us to view life choices or the choices available to women as polarities and irreconcilable opposites, those differences become problematic.” Jamieson notes that over the years women have found new choices to make exercise, so don’t think of yourself as permanently shackled. She says, “Simply put, over time women have learned to turn potatoes into vichyssoise.”

When asked about this problem, I say, “When you see double standards for men and women in action, all you need to do is call attention to the issue, without getting angry. Most people will make their own judgment that this is wrong.” it’s like that.” unfair treatment. Those who don’t are not ready to change this week.”

I do not promote more laws and more lawsuits as the best way to proceed. Public opinion is ready to change en masse. Instead of a lawsuit, focus on double standards. Let people decide if this is acceptable behavior. Today we see that fathers and mothers are worried about sending their daughters to a workplace that will disappoint them, year after year, with inequities.

Debra Meyerson of Stanford University tells us that if you want to make an effort to change the use of double standards, you need to speak up. For example, “Jack and Mary have clients who like them. Jack is arrogant and all you do is laugh about it. But Mary is not that arrogant, but you criticize her when she promotes herself. Why does he become so arrogant? higher grades at the time of promotion? Doesn’t it seem like we’re using double standards?

Advice: Over the next week, look for instances of double standards being used for men and women in your workplace. Point out the problem without anger if possible. It is very likely that you can recruit a man to support this opinion. Honestly, they are ready to help! Check out WomensMedia for new tips every week!

Other readings

Blog, Women’s Luncheon Talk, by Nancy Clark, Gender Communication: Nature or Nurture? -Why do we have Mars-Venus communication? And why is Mars more powerful?

website, WomensMedia, by Debra Meyerson, Gender in Business: Talk About Double Standards

Podcast (always less than 10 minutes), Working in Heels, by Nancy Clark, Gender Communication: Nature Or Nurture? -Why do we have Mars-Venus communication and why is Mars more powerful?

ArticleNancy A. Nichols, “Whatever Happened to Rosie the Riveter?” Harvard Business Review.

Books, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Beyond the double bindOxford University Press.