Top 12 Myths & Realities That Block Women’s Career Success – Part I
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.
Why Assertive Women Pay a Price for Success
“What are young women made of, sugar and spice and all things nice” states a rhyme written by Robert Southey in the 19th century. The expectation of niceness continues to plague women today. From a very young age, girls learn it is important to be nice and focus on pleasing others. Whether this expectation is implicit or explicit and derived from parents, the media, or peers, it exists. It exists as an expectation both men and women can have of women.
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. As Bette Davis said, “When a man gives his opinion, he’s a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she’s a bitch.”
Multiple research studies have demonstrated that it’s harder for assertive, ambitious women to be viewed as likable. An INSEAD study determined that women need to be seen as likable or warm and caring to be considered capable. Likability is not a requirement for men’s success. A Stanford study found that women who assert themselves can be negatively impacted by their performance reviews and labeled as too aggressive. 76% of women’s reviews referenced being too aggressive, and only 24% of men’s. The contributions of men and women appear not to be evaluated equally.
When the United States Senator Kamala Harris questioned Attorney General Jeff Sessions during Senate Intelligence hearings, she was frequently interrupted by male colleagues and Sessions complained that she made him nervous. She didn’t shout, cry or curse at Sessions, and yet male news commentators accused her of being hysterical. The word hysterical is a negative gendered term meaning overemotional, frenzied or frantic. Senator Kamala Harris is not a hysterical woman; she is assertive.
In comparison, there is a multitude of examples in the media of men shouting to make a point, and there are no negative repercussions as a result. Unfortunately, the reality is when women demonstrate assertiveness, it may have a negative impact on their careers. Assertive women can be successful, but at what price?
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.