Dec 28, 2005 12:24 PM
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(Updated Dec 28, 2005 06:08 PM)
Working women are no longer a rare species. There has been a steady increase in the number of working women employees and this pattern is bound to continue in the future as well. Women are making their career paths into the management areas as well.
Inspite of all these, the existence of any actual existing differences between male and female managers has been challenged. Just how are female managers regarded differently than their male counterparts? There is a tendency to describe female managers as less self-confident, less emotionally stable, less analytical, and having poorer leadership abilities than male managers. How true is it?
Beliefs of this sort contribute to a variety of assumptions about female managers, which in turn form the basis for negative stereotypes about them. Some of them are:
Women give priority to their families I agree, women do place family demands above work considerations, but also remember that most of the women(whether working or not) are good at time management. They can multitask and can be more productive effortlessly. It is but the truth that they have to think of family matters, children, their studies, cooking, cleaning etc. But they are handling all these in a well balanced way. They are handling pressures and stress, both at work and at home.
Women work for supplemental income The thought gives rise to the belief that they lack the necessary drive to succeed in business. Not true! Earlier, the women probably worked for added income. Now they work for work satisfaction. They are educated and want to do something for themselves too. Their entire life goes in being a good daughter, a good wife, a good mother, a good bhabahi, a good daughter-in-law, a good cook, a good house keeper etc. But what about herself? Probably men resent that women have started thinking about themselves, want to little things that give them a little satisfaction in life. What say guys?
Women are emotional True most of the women are emotional.
Even I am. But, at work I am as professional as people think a man would be. I take feedback or negative criticism to improve myself.
If it is an unprofessional personal attack, I might take it personally. But my approach to resolve that would be professional.
I might get worried and a bit upset if meetings are scheduled late in the evening. But if I am told well in advance about it, I can mentally prepare myself and my daughter for that.
For this the men also need to help out in making the woman be more professional, instead of making her life miserable:)
Women do not make good managers I think it is false.
Most of the time the male supervisors/bosses look for the basic facts why certain thing did not work. They generally don't care about the details. Where as a women manager is more verbal(and probably concerned) and may discuss the situation, probe it a little deeper to try to understnd and the situation and take corrective measures.
Women are naturally more nurturing, supporting, and there is sometimes a touch of mothering in their approach.Hence she understands the emotional side of the people working with her. This is a very important factor in this era where the pressures and stress factors are very high.
Women are naturally more capable of handling stress as they are emotionally very strong. So they can handle stressful situations without panicking.
Women managers are try to cultivate a more participatory, consultative and empowering culture. Women are challenging the old-style organisations that are bureaucratic and autocratic.'
Most of the women who excel in their field, give the credit to their supportive parents and/or husbands and/or in-laws. All that working women ask for is a little support? They are not asking for more and they deserve some support don't they? What say gals(and guys too)?
