Although the number of women who successfully navigate the labyrinth is on the rise, women are still facing many challenges. This article goes to show that even still women are being stereotyped from child birth to adult hood. Many young girls still are brought up to think that they are only able to do certain jobs, and in some cases it is instilled in their minds that they are only supposed to be wives and mothers. These constant messages may lead to false believe and some girls will grow up thinking they do not belong in high powered corporate world. These stereotypes are particular damaging for women because agentic, as opposed to communal, tendencies are often indispensable. According to the role congruity theory, the agentic qualities thought necessary in the leadership role are incompatible with the predominantly communal qualities stereotypically associated with women, thus resulting in prejudice against female leaders.
The article continues to state the even today elementary school teachers give more attention in math and science to the boys, and language arts with the girls. This is because the math and science skills may be vital for many male dominate professions. It says that in middle school years, the girls are more likely to be discouraged from playing sports and doing clubs, and more encouraged to participate in volunteer work and babysitting. They are pushed to do more passive activities. Many women are often encouraged to go into careers that are stereotypical female oriented jobs, like teaching, nursing, cares giving, retail, and office administration. The book states that this helps explain on stereotyped expectation that women tae care and men take charge. Gender stereotypes are pervasive, well documented, and highly resistant to change and this could be the reason that teachers still try to pursue the girls into thinking that the care giving jobs are best for them.
More women are starting businesses and are in the work force are man, and like the book states a majority of the women are degree holders, yet according to the department of Labor women are still only dominating in fields and industries that are seen as “female”. Do you think that this could possibly be because even though more women are working they are still less likely to self promote and negotiate then men? Also if schools we not allowed to push certain subjects on students do you think that in general women may become more dominate then the men?
Posted By: Kayla Samolinski
For full article: http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/challengeswomenface/a/genderdiscrim.htm
I believe that one reason women are dominating in "female" feilds is because people are usually good at things they enjoy doing. Even though it is seen as being a stereotype, men may be afraid to take part in the "female" jobs because they want to feel more manly. The same goes for women being the head of large corporations. Most women may simply think that it's not the job for them. The leadership book also states that gender stereotypes are easily and automatically activated, and they often lead to biased judgments. These judgements could not only take place at work or when different genders are choosing jobs, but they could simply take place at school. These biased judgements could lead to women only wanting to take "female" subjects. This could relate to the study that shoes that women who make up a very small minority of a male-dominated group are seen as toekens representing all women. These women then feel a great amount of pressure and thier perfomance is greatly judged. Many women may then think it is better off to stick with the stereotype and pass on the pressure.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I still beleive that women lack the skill of self-promotion. Women may not want to be in control, or like the book states, it is a fact that women are less likely to self-promote and negotiate than men. Therefore, if women don't promote themselves and men do, the men are going to get the jobs a larger percent of the time.
Posted By: Laura Whisenhunt
To be honest, I think it will take at least a few more decades to get an equal amount of men and women in the top executive positions in a company. Women will also have the more nurturing and relationship motivated characteristics, thus some women still do break away from this norm. It is the way society is and I think it will take something big to change this norm. I do not think that schools really do push certain subjects on students at a young age. I know in elementary school, I was in the advanced math, and did very well in it. I think girls and boys tend to excel in certain subjects because they care about what other people think of them. Young boys like to excel in sports and if they don’t, they may get picked on for being weak. Young girls may babysit because their friends are doing it, not just because the schools are pushing it upon them. It is the way our society’s norms are and how the world works.
ReplyDeletePosted by: Genise Logston