Below the radar, gender stereotypes still impact the workplace
A 2006 book, The Female Brain, made the controversial claim that women speak almost three times as many words per day as men. Despite the fact that linguists swiftly debunked this claim, it and other gender myths persist.
A recent article from the New York Times, “The Feminine Critique“, examines the pervasive nature of gender stereotyping, which can affect our ability to accurately perceive men and women on issues that range from the expression of anger to salary negotiations — any of which can hold serious consequences for the workplace.
Says one researcher, “Most of what we learn shows that the problem is with the perception, not with the woman,” he said, “and that it is not the problem of an individual, it’s a problem of a corporation.”
The good news is that while we may be susceptible to stereotypes, we can overcome them, as we discussed here in October. But it requires a commitment and a willingness to face them. And you can begin by asking, what is your organization doing to counter stereotypes?