Over two hundred women have contributed to a global survey to share what blocks their career success and satisfaction. These women assessed twenty-one myths and corresponding realities and the “dirty dozen” emerged. These myths blind women to the realities they face in the workplace and the realities block women’s career success. While participants indicate that all twenty-one items on the survey are applicable, twelve rose to the top of the list as having the most negative impact on women’s careers. The twelve are presented, two at a time, in a six-part series called Top 12 Myths & Realities That Block Women’s Career Success. The first two career blockers are Assertive Behaviors and Sexist Communication Habits.
Assertive Behaviors
“The minute you step into a job where you have to be at all tough and assertive, that’s when the mischief happens. And you’re not allowed to be assertive and feminine.” – Marcia Clark
Assertiveness is considered a masculine trait, a positive attribute when men exhibit it. Some believe it is not a trait woman should display. When a woman is assertive like a man, she may be called aggressive or bitchy. Because assertiveness is perceived as a necessary attribute to be successful in business, women often believe that they can demonstrate the same level of assertiveness as men with no repercussions. The reality is that when women demonstrate assertiveness, it can have a negative impact on their careers. There are numerous studies that validate this.
Sexist Communication Habits
“My friends coined a word: hepeated. For when a woman suggests an idea and it’s ignored, but then a guy says the same thing and everyone loves it.” – Nicole Gugliucci
Many types of sexist communication habits exist on and off-the-job. Mansplaining, hepeating, and himitating to name a few. Women in the workplace may believe that their ideas will be given equal consideration to men’s. The reality is that women’s ideas are often negated, and if a man hepeats or repeats what the woman said, then the idea is heard as coming from the man and the man is given credit. The man is remembered as the one who made the suggestion. These sexist communication habits can be found everywhere. In the White House, during President Obama’s term in office, female staffers created a meeting strategy called “amplification.” Women agreed to repeat another woman’s idea and give credit to the author to amplify the idea.
Stay tuned for the next two career blockers.
This post is an excerpt from the book Women’s Career Myths and Realities (working title) by Lynn Schmidt. All rights reserved. Women’s Career Myths and Realities focuses on the myths that blind us and the realities that block us from career success and satisfaction. The book includes helpful strategies for overcoming challenges and achieving success.