Living With Feminism
I have to confess, nothing makes my head explode faster than articles about working women discussing the plight of working women, mostly because they use so very many words to say nothing at all. National Journal brings us the latest iteration of this too often plumbed genre: a lengthy feature piece entitled High Hurtles, by Fawn Johnson.
Like so many meandering expositions on the plight of modern womankind, I am no closer to understanding why I have fewer opportunities in Washington after reading the article than I was ten seconds before I started. The information, though thoughtfully presented, is statistically unhelpful. What’s more, it directly conflicts with my own experience, as well as that of other women I know.
I’ve worked in D.C., with union bosses, and it will surprise no one when I say they aren’t the most female friendly group. Also, I had nothing good to tell them, which didn’t help. So I adapted. I didn’t have to work harder; I had to work differently. Like spending countless hours talking about the merits of Cool Hand Luke, and Mail Call, so I could eventually work around to, “Hey, your public sector program is getting tanked by the congressman you endorsed, you might want to do something.”
I don’t count having to navigate reality as a blow to gender equality, so much as a fact of life.
The author cites this statistic, which I consider not very useful because it doesn't really advance the ball any, and likely doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know.
“Sixty percent of the respondents said that it is harder for women than for men to attain positions of leadership. Yet almost the same number of women (65 percent) said they believed they could advance as far as their talents would take them, regardless of gender.”
So what does that mean? Washington area women believe they have to work harder to get as far as a man. That might be the perception--but the reality is, everyone in D.C. works harder. I don’t know anyone, female or male, whose success in Washington wasn’t directly linked to working twice as hard as their peers.
Another sticking point for me is this idea that women should be valued in the workforce as equal to men... :
“Heidi Hartmann, a George Washington University professor who heads the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and studies women in the workplace. ‘In Congress and the federal government, women are moving up and getting a higher share of the federal jobs,’ she added. ‘It’s a continuing problem to still get in there on equal footing.’”
... And yet also valued as innately female:
“Yet the qualities needed to navigate the political scene—empathy, observation, loyalty—are particularly innate to women.”
Personally, I'd like to see all women view their gender as an asset, unique from that of men, and a strength.
The article evaluates this issue of equality in opportunity for women in a variety of ways, from pay, to actual job numbers in Congress, to family bias and education. But these statistics ignore the fact that women send mixed messages about the issue.
On the one hand you have sage counsel telling young women:
“…to lower their voices, shake hands firmly, introduce themselves with their first and last name, and attend cocktail parties where they don’t know a soul and come away with at least one contact. She teaches them about 15-second elevator pitches and personal branding. (“Take the drinking photos off your Facebook page. Set up a Google alert of yourself.”)”
While on the other you’ve got another woman saying she doesn’t:
“…shy away from acting like a man in her job. She drinks with her male colleagues, curses, and tells dirty jokes.”
The reason why this topic may be so hard to pin down is because, as women have become far more fully integrated into the D.C. workforce than any time in history, there is less and less real distinction between the genders when it comes to job opportunities and hard work. Women are finally coming to understand what it’s like to have to compete as men do. And not all of them like it.
I am curious about your experiences when it comes to job opportunities and gender inequality. What do you think?
(h/t to @Nic_Fisher for the article)
- Comment (16)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Living With Feminism
I'm so glad you're back Ms. Efferson.
In the six years I spent in the DoD engineering world, there was a tremendous bias in favor of women in the company I worked for. It was headquartered in Boston, which may help explain it. But considering the relatively few women in the field at the time and the predominance of women in management and as engineer architects on the project, the bias was undeniable. Only twice in my time there did I report to men, and both times they reported to women. I've often thought women who were privileged in this way should be blessed with sons. This preferential treatment is crap, no matter who gets it.
Aug '11
Re: Living With Feminism
My experience has been that generally, people treat you the way you expect to be treated. I spent most of my working life overseas, often in non-female friendly environments (including Afghanistan). I can count the instances of getting sidelined or harassed on the job because I was a woman on one hand. I had a good career and am now on my second.
In short, I'm tired of the articles about the plight of American women in the workforce too.
Dec '10
Re: Living With Feminism
Kirsten Weiss: ...
In short, I'm tired of the articles about the plight of American women in the workforce too.
Speaking of Afghanistan, it's pretty hard to sympathize with American women's complaints about their work experience when Muslim women have acid thrown in their faces simply for offending the honor of some man. American women have it so stinkin' good.
I've had to leave the table when women get incensed by having been asked to fetch a cup of coffee for a man at work. Sheesh! Get him a lousy cup of coffee (literally -- put a spoon full of grounds in it) and get over it! He'll never ask again.
And, P.S., quit yer whinin'.
You can tell I'm not the best "girl"-friend. Anything which smacks of ingratitude gets my panties in a bunch.
Sep '10
Re: Living With Feminism
I have a little anecdote to add. A woman I know had a male supervisor who she felt was misogynistic, though she never cited any specific example of negative behavior. He gave her an important project to manage and a promotion. As a result of a reorganization, she began reporting to a female supervisor who took away the project responsibility and generally was not supportive. Yet my friend still felt the first boss was a misogynist.
It's just an anecdote. The plural of anecdote may not be data, but it makes you wonder.
Sep '10
Re: Living With Feminism
Western Chauvinist
Anything which smacks of ingratitude gets my panties in a bunch. · 4 minutes ago
Ingratitude sets me off too.
Sep '10
Re: Living With Feminism
This reminds me of another anecdote. A freelance journalist who specialized in environmental news and related topics told me that she got much better treatment from men at publications like Field and Stream than in the leftist papers and magazines she usually favored. The guys in the latter were constantly hitting on her and treating her like an 'object.' She seemed surprised by this.
Remind you of any former presidents?
Apr '12
Re: Living With Feminism
In my field (academic philosophy) I think the breakdown is pretty simple. The question to ask is: is the person in question a parent? If no, women are more likely to succeed. If yes, men. I expect many fields would exhibit similar trends. It seems to me like rshee an unhealthy state of affairs to have such heavy disincentives to parenthood. But I've never had much luck getting people concerned about it. America is locked into the idea of there being a gender war and everybody's already picked sides; either they're keen to get women more opportunities/advantages, or they're burning with resentment because they get too many. It's an unfortunate state of affairs. But, at least we all get the pleasure of being righteously indignant!
Oct '10
Re: Living With Feminism
This is an important point that is often not grasped. Many women find that other things interest them more than climbing bureaucratic ladders. There are at least two reasons for this: (a) they have brains and bureaucracy is intellect-shattering dull; men are, on average, dullards who don't mind slogging on as long as some Maslowian first-rung treat is on the other side of the effort; and (b) for many women, nurturing children is more rewarding and so they opt out of traditional wage-labor in favor of domestic labor.
May '11
Re: Living With Feminism
As one who usually revels in righteous indignation, I would say that I have a hard time finding grounds for indignation on either side. Mrs. Pessimist is vastly more successful in the healthcare field than I, a lowly radiologist. She is a nationally known executive in a field that will be extinct if Obamacare stands. My belief is that gender differences are amplified rather than mitigated by political correctness. There are many forms of political correctness. Racial political correctness is largely irrelevant outside of politics and media. Feminine political correctness has permeate
Edited on July 19, 2012 at 1:03amMay '11
Re: Living With Feminism
I have spent 30 minutes trying to finish that previous post and once the IPad somehow kicked me out, I was screwed. On the edit field I got two boxes and typing in either box changed nothing. Whatever. I believe gender discrimination in a field is inversely related to the degree that the field is a meritocracy. In a meritocracy, women generally kick butt.
Apr '12
Re: Living With Feminism
Yes, women are realizing that men hit a glass ceiling too when they want to be able to parent more. It is a tough competition with family sacrifice for all genders (i'm in Canada where multi genders are the norm). The Yahoo! CEO who just reported being pregnant brought out all the screamers. Maybe her husband will be the at home parent, or in the Daddy track for his career but there was no discussion about different roles between the sexes for parenting. The Canadian banks and big corporations all have diversity officers and females are being advanced aggressively. Many opt out but self select out for family as the companies are trying to do work life family balance. Women need to figure out how to network, do clubs, socialize while skiing, find similar vacation spots as key clients or players, network at their kids schools, charity boards, etc. and get involved in these as it is who you know. It still is difficult for men to mentor younger women if they are wearing tight clothing and high heels, unless you want Bill Clinton as your work mentor. I will not mentor the ones using sexual appeal.
Dec '11
Re: Living With Feminism
A.D.P. Efferson, Guest Contributor:
On the one hand you have sage counsel telling young women:
While on the other you’ve got another woman saying she doesn’t:
Pshaw... The most effective method to get ahead as a woman is no different than that of a man- deliver the bottom line. Everybody respects a donut maker!
Feb '11
Re: Living With Feminism
A.D.P. Efferson, Guest Contributor:
I don’t know anyone, female or male, whose success in Washington wasn’t directly linked to working twice as hard as their peers.
I can certainly think of one, though it depends on how you define "success."
Jul '10
Re: Living With Feminism
Bringing this back to the National Journal, one of its reporters was interviewed by PBS the other day in the Journal's newsroom. I couldn't take my eyes off the poster of Obama that half covered one wall. They don't even make a pretense at hiding it anymore. Their claim: " National Journal has been Washington’s premier source of nonpartisan insight on politics and policy for more than four decades."
Edited on July 20, 2012 at 12:01amApr '12
Re: Living With Feminism
I'm 42, and I don't believe I've ever experienced gender discrimination in the workplace. I work in a male-dominated field (IT... though it's getting better, but it's still at least 80% male). Honestly, though, I find it much easier to work with and for men. Most of my female bosses (IMHO) felt compelled to hold me back in order to advance their own causes while, as has been noted, male bosses tended to reward the results rather than my chromosomes. Maybe it's because I'm in a white collar rather than blue collar workforce. Maybe it's because I've been brainwashed by the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy to believe the way I'm treated is acceptable.
Frankly, the fact that I make twice the salary as my self-satisfied liberal peers in female-dominated professions is reward enough for me...
Mar '12
Re: Living With Feminism
"I don’t count having to navigate reality as a blow to gender equality, so much as a fact of life."
Yeah, but feminist doctrine taught women to deny reality and expect men and women to be the same. For practical purposes, that means that women get annoyed when they have to do anything for men, in this case make conversation about things men typically like. Men who are stay at home dads or who are elementary teachers probably have to chat a bit about things girls like to talk about, but they'd be brave/stupid to complain.
No matter what your profession, you have to talk shop, but it doesn't always break men v women issues. I was an admiralty lawyer, which is very male dominated, but then we talked less about man stuff than about shipping and navigation because that's where everyone had common experience.