Katrina: Gender dynamics in the world of paid labor have become very stereotyped. Women face multiple barriers when striving to attain a career in the professional world today. Wood explains that these gendered stereotypes cast women into four main categories, the sex object, the mother, the child or the iron maiden. Women are defined as incompetent, skilled only in a maternal sense, or unfeminine. As discussed in class, these stereotypes are very much culturally constructed. Society is taught to adhere to these stereotypes from the media, television shows and films. We find a male nurse to be hysterical, and the sexy secretary seducing her male boss to be completely expected. How did these stereotypes come about? Women are expected to be innately maternal and if they are not, they automatically become the “iron maiden.” As discussed last week, “women’s jobs” are primarily social, often dealing with children or positions that require interpersonal skills. Males often doubt the capabilities of a woman solely because of her sex. In addition, women employees who have or plan to have children are often viewed as less serious professionals than men or women without children. It’s almost as if women are punished for having a family and raising children. Family dynamics of today’s society are messy and stray from the traditional nuclear set-up. Socio-economic factors also influence the presence of women in the work force, as opposed to previous generations in which the male is typically the breadwinner. The wage gap is also a leading issue in the professional world…
“The American Civil Liberties Union reports that a woman still earns only 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Women’s salaries are still often seen as a supplement to their husband, according to Catalyst, a nonprofit designed to build inclusive workplaces for women and business”
(http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com/blog/gender-stereotypes-impact-women-in-the-workplace/)
Jaqlyn: I find all these issues hard to argue with. Even though society has made strides towards women’s rights in the workplace, there are still tons of issues that are so deeply rooted it’s difficult to see change in sight. The stereotypes Woods mentions in the chapter are, in my opinion, hugely damaging to women’s fight to gain equal opportunities of men. Women could blame men for imparting theses stereotypes on them, but I don’t think men are entirely to blame. As women, everyday we are allowing these stereotypes to be perpetuated in the workplace, whether consciously or not.
For example; once I was talking to my cousin’s girlfriend, Mariel, who is a young professional working in New York City. I was asking her questions about her job and I asked if it is difficult for young, fresh out of college people, like me, to get a job like hers in a place like New York City. Without missing a beat she replied, “well, you’re a pretty young girl and that helps a lot.” I wasn’t surprised by what she said, but it was nonetheless upsetting to hear. It’s frustrating to me that women can be hired (pretty much) solely on the basis of looks and not skill or work ethic. Even in my job I see girls get hired all the time who are totally incompetent at work but they look good to the men who do all the hiring so hey, why not? It’s creepy and disappointing and makes me wonder why I got hired. Did my employers think I would be a helpful, dedicated, hardworking employee? Or did they like that I was the type of girl who showed up to an interview with hair and makeup all in place and didn’t do much but sit pretty and nod my head in agreement during my interview. Was I unconsciously perpetuating the stereotype of “the sex object” or “the child” to get a job? It grosses me out to think about it like that.
I and many of my other young, female peers feel many of the same frustrations at work. By unintentionally perpetuating these stereotypes, we were able to land the job, but aren’t taken seriously as employees. We are cut- out, run of the mill pretty girls who are easily replaced, and easily disposed of. In contrast, the so called “iron maidens” of the workplace may gain respect from our male managers and peers, but are whispered about and called a bitch as soon as they leave the room. You really can’t win if you try I suppose. For women in the workplace ( at least my workplace) you are a pushover, eye candy or a bitch. Challenging these deeply rooted stereotypes is tough. I’m not even sure I know how. It sucks constantly feeling like I have to prove myself at work and I’m only working a part time restaurant job. I can’t imagine what women face in real professional settings. If things are going to change for good, we need to support women who are willing to step up and take positions of power, and not secretly complain about them when they leave the room.
Katrina: It is important for our generation and generations to come to understand how how institutional life intersects with cultural understandings of gender. In order to break these stereotypes we must work to redefine the workplace of the future. By challenging barriers and breaking the “norm” we can work towards equality for all genders and fair treatment for all in the professional world. What are you ideas for breaking the stereotypes? How can we change the future of the workplace?
I often consider if I am strengthening the gendered work stereotypes by becoming an elementary education teacher. It’s a topic my peers and I debate in our education classes. If I had the passion to become a businesswoman or doctor, I would have done so. Young girls need to be exposed to women in CEO positions and young boys need to see more men as teachers and nurses.
I also worked in a restaurant and was given every stereotype except the iron maiden. My boss told me if I unbuttoned the top buttons on my shirt, it would result in more tips, thus making my physical attributes more important than my ability to do the job well. My male coworkers would come to me with problems because I was just supposed to fix it (mother stereotype.) And finally, one day, a coworker a few years older asked how old I was, at the time I was only 19. After that day, I was treated as a child. Before going into the real world, I hope to come up with a plan on how to combat these stereotypes.
The stereotypes men face in the workplace can be just as damaging; however, men, rarely, have to prove themselves at work. Of course they do to keep the job, but when applying for a job their employer doesn’t look at them and think “is he a father?” “Is he going to have kids soon and take time off?” “Will he be more devoted to his family than work?” People automatically assume if it is a man, the job will get done. The “If She’s a He” story proves this on page 236.
I like the questions you both raised in this blog. I find it particularly hard to break from the stereotypical roles and expectations women face in the workplace. I have worked on an Air Force base for the past two summers as a secretary and being surrounded by men definitely brought these stereotypes to life. Not only was I working as a secretary (stereotypical women’s job) but I was definitely treated like the child of the office. While the men I worked with were very respectful, they definitely acted differently around me than they did their male coworkers. I also noticed the older women who had been working there for a long time in jobs similar to mine almost took on a motherly role. These women had a more nurturing role in the office and the men respected them as if they were their own mothers. Even though the men respected the women at my job, I always got the feeling they thought they could do the job better and more efficiently.
As far as breaking these stereotypes, I think it will be very difficult. Women can start “doing gender” in a less gendered way if that makes sense. Not being scared to branch out of the typical womanly work place may be a start. In order to break this chain it is important to show the diverse qualifications of women and that we are more than just a pretty face.
As I mentioned in class, I am the type of person that wears their heart and feelings on their sleeve which goes the same for my politics. I try to make it known just by talking to me where my politics lie. When I am in an interview, I dress to impress only because it is understood that the people (men and women) who leave the best and longest lasting impression are the ones who will get the job and looking sharp has a lot to do with that. Once within the workplace environment, push the limits! The only way to see change is to challenge the current views. If the rest of the women in the office wear skirts or dresses to work, wear pants and see what happens. Go to work one day without makeup or with it all smudged. Be confident enough in your abilities to do your job so that your employers grow to need and respect you as a worker and less as a sex object, child or iron maiden.
As far as breaking the gender stereotype, it is like Jaqlyn stated, “as women, everyday we are allowing these stereotypes to be perpetuated in the workplace, whether consciously or not”. We as women need to be the change we want to see in the world. Sitting idol behind and watching as men and society puts us into prepackaged little boxes of what women should look like at the office doesn’t do anyone any good. Being an active participant in your future is the key to controlling it. I know I sound a bit preachy but I believe it is the only way to see a change in the way women are viewed in the workplace. The suffragettes didn’t sit back and watch as men continued to rule to world, they fought for what they deserved and women in the workforce today should fight for fair treatment.
I agree with the idea that women in the workplace have not been stereotyped to these roles by men, solely. As women, we perpetuate them ourselves. In fact, I’ve found it’s even worse in a female-driven workplace because no one is looking to you to be sexy, per se. They want to make sure you’ll look nice if a client comes in but if the office is full of females, then it really only leaves two choices: child or iron maiden. Starting a full time position with the pr firm I interned with last summer, I am fully prepared to be treated as the child figure. I will be the youngest, most inexperienced one there. But I’m not going to let it bother me. I embrace it. I want to work my way up to be the iron maiden because, in an office full of women, that’s who they will respect. The woman who gets what she wants. And, personally, I don’t see anything wrong with that, especially in a male-dominated office. I’d rather them think I’m a bitch than easy. It’s sad that it has to come to that, but as it’s been mentioned, it’s going to take a lot to change those perceptions society has created.
I feel like there was a stereotype left out of Wood’s discussion to encapsulate professions where women predominantly work and have to fill a “friend” role. I think this is true in many retail jobs and hairdressers/ nail artists etc. I don’t think that these jobs fit neatly into any of the categories previously listed by Wood. I work at Nordstrom when I’m home, and in my experience I’ve had to jump quickly into a role of “shopping buddy” or “new best friend” with customers so that they will shop with me, and I’ll make money. The job itself is really emotional, and quite gendered… especially since I work in the “Women’s Active and Swim” Department. I love working commission because I can ensure that I’m making the money that I deserve and there’s no cap to the amount that I can make. However, I noticed that the men’s departments where men typically work (shoes, men’s furnishings, men’s active/sportswear etc) have a higher commission rate than the women’s sections.
I’ve come to the conclusion that “friend” gender stereotype is one that women in certain lines of work like retail jobs or in salons rely on filling more than men do to keep customers happy and coming back. I feel like the reason why retail jobs have been typically filled by women is because their high levels of emotional maturity enable them to be more intuitive about the needs and wants of others. Salesmen rely on telling customers what they need, directing them, rattling off pitches to convince them. Female sales associates might be better at listening to the customer, scoping out her style and recommending things for customers to try on. Also, I try to make customers feel awesome about themselves with meaningful, really specific compliments, and if the garment doesn’t look great I know how to articulate that in a painless way and am quick to bring in alternatives.
I definitely don’t play a “sex object” role at work, and it has worked to my advantage since most middle-aged women would rather not buy a “Miraclesuit” from a bombshell bikini model. Keeping up appearances is expected, and employees are supposed to appear professional and polished, which I don’t feel is particularly gendered. Because of my age, it’s tricky to imagine myself playing a “mother” role, though I wait on customers and tend to their needs and anticipate their wants. I’m a little confused about the “child” work stereotype, is anyone else? I know they listed examples in the chapter about women being imposed with this child stereotype and losing positions that could be harmful because of the desire to “protect” women. Are there actual professions that fall into this category, or is it a common manifestation of sexism that any women could run into at work?
I believe a lot of these issues in the workplace stem from a negative association with women in the workplace in general; women may be seen as steering away from their “motherly” role, a role we are expected to perfect in order to be considered “real women.” Cultural images portray women to be the superhero: to work, to cook, to mother, to be a spouse, to be everything, to be everywhere. However, they do not always have the access to the resources (ex. money) that will allow them to be this all-encompassing idea of self. It’s an extreme double-bind, but I am very hopeful that we are slowly working towards equality in terms of professionalism!
I agree that women, even myself, perpetuate these stereotypes of iron maiden, child, and sex object, and mother on a daily basis. I see this happen all the time, and as I said, may have even facilitated it at one point in my life. When I was a freshmen and lived on a co-ed hall, I became the “mother” for many of my guy friends. If they were hungry late at night and I was awake, I was designated to make a snack, if they had a shirt that needed ironed, I was good for that too, I even missed class one morning because I had to walk a friend to the emergency room for a minor cut. I was very naive to the stereotypical role that I was falling into and even welcoming. After having had some instruction in women’s studies classes as well as learning more explicitly about the American culture in general, I am quite appalled by my actions. Not too long ago, I recieved a text message that a male friend of mine was hungry and that I should come make him something to eat…he was 1,000 miles away. I understand that it was just a joke but honestly I felt a moment of anger and offense and still can’t help but be appalled by the comment. That moment really put into perspective the way in which I had set myself up for the degrading comment as well as an image for myself.
I think that we, even women, create these workplace stereotypes. By pointing out that there is a ‘male nurse’ or a ‘female lawyer’, by adding the gender before the occupation creates the stereotype right there. By acknowledging that that is different or bizarre, is creating the stereotype. To fight these stereotypes we as women should work on being more ambiguous. Leave room for there to be more than one answer that could be either male or female. When a female is ‘hot’ and ‘feminine’ she is labeled as the sex object in the work place. When the female takes charge and is ambitious, she is labeled as the iron maiden. Because of these labels, women are always categorized and either not taken seriously at work or not liked. How do we avoid this you ask, without changing who we are? Personally, I strive to be gender neutral at work and in life. It’s small, but sometimes that’s all that it takes to feel better about yourself in a gender stereotyped world.