Debunking myths about women in the workplace
Friday, August 21st, 2015
Even though it is generally believed that women nowadays have a far cosier spot in the career sun, research still suggest that the higher the managerial levels in companies, the lower the proportion of women. Inge Strydom discovered that several prevalent myths about women in the workplace might contribute to this phenomenon.
The article “Factors Influencing Women Managers’ Success” published in21st Century Management: A Reference Handbook, discusses several factorsthat are preventing women from succeeding in the workplace. These factors lead up to several myths about women in the workplace, of which most are misleading.
Women tend to invest less in their careers
According to the article, this argument holds little truth. In the United States and many other countries, women now attain university degrees at higher rates than men do. With regard to obtaining bachelor’s degrees, this trend has been evident in the United States since 1981–1982.
Women prefer feminine work cultures
Recent studies show that both male and female managers prefer work cultures that emphasise traditional male values such as competition, effort, and work pressure over feminine work cultures.
Women are more concerned with raising a family
Another myth holds that women’s focus tend to be shifted towards raising a family, instead of planning their careers. It is generally believed that women are less likely to enrol for courses that will advance their careers further down the line. However, it seems that with an increasing number of women enrolled in MBA programs and other types of business education, this explanation holds little truth.
Women are worse leaders than men
Another myth holds that men are more natural and effective leaders. However, according to the article, there is no empirical evidence to substantiate this assumption. Thus, women can be just as good, or even better, at leading people and companies effectively. In fact, according to Forbes.com, research shows that of the companies who perform well financially, a larger percentage are led by women than those who fail financially.
This article was originally published in the Solidarity Magazine. Click here to visit the Solidarity Magazine’s webpage.
