What holds women back in business
January 27, 2010 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: Behavior, Communication, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
The short story: Women are judged on how they look. The long story: It’s a little more complicated than that.
First of all, men tend to judge women according to looks. That’s what showed up in research that’s the basis for a new book, “The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules, Misperceptions, and Secret Beliefs of Men in the Workplace.”
But there are three parts to the research that women should really pay attention to:
- Yes, men judge women on looks, but not just on whether they’re attractive or not attractive.
- Women have control of men’s perceptions of female co-workers.
- Most women don’t realize the true effects of how they look.
Let’s break it down with some numbers. The book’s author, Shaunti Feldhahn, interviewed men and women, and presented them with a situation: A woman wearing a low-cut top or a tight skirt is making a business presentation. What are you thinking? Is this woman trying to use her body to influence men?
Who said “yes”?
- Men: 76%
- Women: 23%
The message in the book: Men may like to look at cleavage, but they don’t take it seriously.
Tags: Shaunti Feldhahn, The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules Misperceptions and Secret Beliefs of Men in the Workplace
January 28th, 2010 at 3:46 am
I don’t differentiate between ways people try to influence me. OK, so I’ve been round the block a lot of times and been on both sides of the table here (influeincing and trying to influence), but it’s all down to the same thing for me: The presenter wants to persuade me to their viewpoint.
I try to rise above style and just work on the point that they are trying to get over. Overt ways of trying to win my attention are more likely to turn me off their pitch it they outweigh the substance.
Whether it be an interview candidate, sales person, conference speaker, trainer or whatever I’m looking for their best shot because that is where I’ll get benefit. Yes, I do expect an appropriate set of behaviours and dress sense, but I include their style in that to some degree. Sex, race or other factors are irrelevant.
Thanks for the post.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
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February 1st, 2010 at 11:51 am
I’m not stating my opinion at this time. However, I am interested in reading the opinion of others.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:11 pm
I think that the number one thing that holds women back in business is their family. Mothers are torn between giving 100% at work and giving 100% at home. It’s a no-win situation. The men where I work stay late and work weekends. I have to limit my time at work because I have family obligations. A lot of times men have a wife at home who takes care of the home and family, which frees them up to work more. I know I am resented by the men at work because I leave earlier than them and work less on weekends because of my family obligations.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:32 pm
As with anything in life, first impressions are crucial to success. However, surface appearl will only get a person so far. At some point there is a need to deliver, consistently and per expectation. We all have some influence in setting people’s expectations of us. We do this by how we dress, speak, interact with others, work ethic, and any other detail of our lives. My personal rule of thumb was historically – if I would wear it to church, a funeral, AND to my grandmother’s house – it probably will do for work. The combination here is to insure proper coverage and enough conservatism to meet an office requirement.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:41 pm
A wise mentor counseled me that ANYONE whose appearance is distracting in the workplace – exceptionally pretty /suggestively dressed women, flamboyantly dressed men, overweight people – will have to work harder, faster, smarter, etc. than someone whose WORK is what people notice first.