Comments on: Act like a man and you’ll earn more? Pft!

By: Warwick Merry

Warwick Merry — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:27:59 +0000

I think there are less women in senior management because the choose not to be there.

More and more it seems that senior managers carry on with a game of “My dick is bigger than yours”. A lot of successful women I know and have dealt with decided to get out and start their own business or do something that was fulfilling and not draining. Their measure of “success” is different than $ earnt.

I like Henry Ford’s quote of “If you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” While some prejudice does exist, if you go looking for it you will find it. If you are focussed on your success, you will find that instead.

The most important questions for any person (regardless of sex, race, creed or favourite ice cream flavour) are “What do you really want and what are you prepared to do to achieve it?” There will be barriers along the way, but that is a good sign. Barriers mean you are moving forward!

Enjoy the journey which ever way you choose.

By: Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:07:51 +0000

Hi Scott. Glad you enjoyed the post and great to have a reader in NYC I think you make a really interesting point. My boss and I often come up with our best ideas after a good argument about who and what is right and why the other person is wrong. Nothing like a good debate and men and women are equally capable of those!

By: Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:04:26 +0000

Re turnaroundandtouchtheground, I think you’re missing my point if you think I’m suggesting women should feel guilty for taking time off to be mothers. I absolutely do not think that. I just think that, in my personal opinion, that’s why there are less women in senior positions, not because of sexism. I also firmly agree that mothers can get to the top of their game in the workplace as well as being good parents. I know so many of these women it must be true!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:33:41 +0000

Hi Ms. Bishop,
I agree with you to an extent… The glass ceiling doesn’t existing. If there is any victim here its any person that wants to take more time for family and friends then work. As you mentioned women take more time off(4 months off in the US) for time with their kids and family. Its just a simple equation… live at work, get more pay.

On another note, there is a difference between being “nice” and “agreeableness”. I believe you can be nice in the workplace but agreeable you can not(in senior management and executive positions). As a boss I don’t want to hear a person that agrees with me. I want to hear the person that doesn’t agree with me. My best decisions are made when I know what I’m up-against. The person that gives me the most compelling reason to not do something is the person I need on my team to know where my plans and direction are lacking. At the same time they have to be “nice” in a sense that they are willing to work with you to overcome these obstacles(should I decide they are valid).

Great article by the way.
Thanks,
~Scott

By: Turnaroundandtouchtheground

Turnaroundandtouchtheground — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 02:35:34 +0000

You’re being a little too black and white here, Jen Bishop. The “glass ceiling” does exist, and will for a long time to come. Sexism still exists in the workplace, and is more rampant in some industries than others. And you can have a baby and still be a super-dooper career woman.
Let’s address the issues of unequal rates of pay, sexism and sexual harassment in the workplace (as well as all other forms of discrimination, come to think of it) before we start pointing any fingers. Women feel enough guilt and self-doubt about their life choices as it is, let’s not pile any more on….

By: Hanna

Hanna — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:52:47 +0000

I agree Jen… many women’s career trajectories are “interrupted” by children (but what a nice interruption). The pay difference over a lifetime isn’t necessarily because women are paid lower salaries; it’s just because most opt to, er, opt out of the workforce.
Re “masculine” versus “nice” – why do the two have to be mutually exclusive?

By: McFazza

McFazza — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:47:47 +0000

This survey also found that “nice” men (agreeableness was the measure) make less money and don’t rise to senior positions in business as well.

So maybe this is not so much about gender but behaviour?

be an @sshole and you’ll go far.

By: that guy

that guy — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:40:11 +0000

Most guys in the office these days are pretty good to work with – open, adaptable, considerate and easy to work with. Maybe I’m lucky at the organisation I work for though. When we say “male behaviour” here I presume we mean belligerence, narrow-mindedness, persistence for its own sake, the ability to knife your colleague in the back, delegate like crazy and take the credit anyway – those sorts of things. Sure there are plenty of guys like that – but hey, real estate agents and stockbrokers cant all be bad – right? There are plenty of women out there willing to make the same mistakes guys often make. They mistake bravado for confidence, cliches and buzzwords for real knowledge, aggression for passion etc… From what I’ve seen the women I want to work with (and for) are those that balance competence and knowledge with empathy and intution – something that a lot of men in senior positions lack. So girls, women – don’t seek to be one of the boys – its not a club you want to join. Be better than the boys and lead by example.

By: Kevin Garber

Kevin Garber — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:21:40 +0000

Whilst these survey can be interesting to consider from a “macro” perspective people have to be careful not to let them become self fulfilling prophecies.

I think in countries like AU it is really up to the individual.

“The real opportunity for success lies within the person and not in the job.” Zig Ziglar

Interestingly I believe the fastest growing demographic of small business owners in AU is the “younger female” demographic.

Women should just continue to be thei wonderful selves and get on with it.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:09:43 +0000

It’s odd… we’ve just had ManWeek – where men are trying to work out what it means to be a man these days. If the concept of masculinity changes so much in itself, are women meant to be more 80s masculine or more 90s masculine to get ahead? Obviously that’s as ridiculous a concept as the research itself… More research on the colour origins of bellybutton fluff please…