Do We Still Have A Glass Ceiling Because of Stereotypes?

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I think we have a problem at work, but just in case I’m exaggerating, I’ll give you the statistics and let you decide.

In the beginning, or at least for a very long time, women have been 51% of the population. In 1950 women made up only 29% of the workforce. Today women are half our workforce (46.5% to be exact). Half of our midlevel managers are women—that sounds fair to me. But, and here’s the big but, women are only 15% of the top two tiers in the Fortune 500. So let’s do the math: Men are 85% and women are 15%. That’s a huge difference—discrepancy—handicap. At least in my mind it is. How do you feel about this? (Your comments are important to me.)

What do you surmise is the reason for the 85-15 Handicap?

 

 How Bad Is The Gender Gap At Work? [7:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Is She Too Strong? Too Pushy?

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Instead of a lawsuit, I say shine a spotlight on double standards in the workplace.

People will decide what’s not acceptable behavior.

Public opinion brings rapid change, and that’s what we anticipate.

 

 Double Standards For Men And Women? [5:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Studies Show Areas Where Women Excel

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Comprehensive management studies are showing women outscoring men in many categories. Of course, my first questions are: Which categories? And why hasn’t this translated into the top two tiers of management?

 

 Proof That Women Make Great Managers [6:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Is Competition Unfeminine?

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There are evolutionary reasons for how women handle competition and there are cultural reasons. Nancy Clark discusses both. Research shows that women tend to shy away from competition when men are included. Does that mean women are not as competitive as men? No, it doesn’t. It means we’re letting the stereotype, It’s Not Feminine To Be Competitive, influence our behavior.

 

 Are Women As Competitive As Men? [5:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

How To Improve Your Interviewing Skills

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Whenever I speak to large audiences, I’m always amazed at the surprised reaction I get when I say you should be looking around for a new position without waiting for a year to pass. Men jump around from company to company more than women do. This is one reason for the size of the gender wage gap. Don’t hesitate to take interviews. Here are the six steps you need to take.

 

 How To Improve Your Interviewing Skills [5:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Power or No Power Creates Gender Stereotypes, Not Nature

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Sometimes we hang onto stereotypes and they act like anchors, sinking us in the workplace. For instance: Women are nurturing (men are not?) and men are competitive (women are not?). In the Nature-Nurture debate I acknowledge there are some traits you’re born with, but what’s more important is what happens after that. My take on it is that the difference between who has power and who does not is what’s forming our stereotypes—not nature.

 

 The Stereotype Myth [5:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Do Men’s Jobs Pay More Money?

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The question I want to pose today is why are there certain fields that appear to be off limits to women? Why is it the trades (electricians, plumbers, painters, etc.) are only 2% female? Women would love those wages—particularly the union wages.

 

 Job Segregation By Gender: Do Men's Jobs Pay More? [4:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Is Ambition Good For Men, And Bad For Women?

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Ambition has two components: Master and the public recognition of it. Scientific research does not show any difference between ambition in boys and girls. But something happens as a girl becomes a woman. Public recognition becomes a no-no for women. And we buy it! We give it the Eww-Factor and say, “It doesn’t matter if anyone else knows how accomplished I am. It’s enough that I know.” Well in the workplace, that attitude will not get a woman promoted.

 

 Are Women As Ambitious As Men? [7:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Men and Women: Different But Equal

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This is an important topic. Which of our predispositions are we genetically born with and which do we learn from our environment? How large a role does nurture play in the differences between men and women? The nature-nurture debate is a hot-button topic.

 

 Nature vs Nurture [7:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Those Little Put-Downs Really Do Add Up!

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In business we still see some people treating women differently than men. Women are held back when perceptions and behaviors are based on the stereotype that men are better and more important in business. Some of these everyday behaviors are subtle. I will itemize 12 of these and tell you what you can do to change the business climate that’s holding women back.

 

 Gender Stereotypes Hold Women Back [6:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download