Women in High Positions: Does it harm the women as individuals or the organization as a whole?

INTRO

PERCEPTION Process of giving meaning to the environment Forms attitude and actions of people within organization Implications of women in high positions depend on how it is perceived, and by whom

How HRW are perceived by their subordinates: Generally negative perceptions (e.g. regard women as less capable than men) Lack of superior-subordinate respect, cannot lead effectively May even challenge decisions and actively impede efforts Diminish level of cooperation, can harm productivity

How HRW are perceived by their superiors: Due to maternal role, generally perceived as more likely to experience work-family conflict Might not be promoted, sometimes even only as token symbols of “gender equality” Can have damaging effect on ego, lead to depression and lack of self-worth

How HRW are perceived by themselves: At a disadvantage compared to male colleagues Belief that they need to work harder to achieve same success May develop ruthless behaviour, pushing others down to secure position May create a “survival of the fittest” atmosphere within the organization Stressful for individual women

SOCIAL ROLE THEORY Divides men and women into social categories Cause people to be governed by gender identity in order to conform Can have implications on organizational behaviour

Role Conflict Arises when incompatible demands placed on a person Two kinds: intra-role & inter-role Intra-role example: “Ideal leader” Inter-role example: Mother v. Principal

Violation of Social Roles Men = dominant, agentic Women = cooperative, submissive When violated, can be harmful to those involved Example: a man may find it difficult to take orders from female boss

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION Sharing information within organization Critical to ensure all organization members work together toward same goals High positions = high responsibility, therefore important to convey correct meaning effectively Determine organization’s direction

Cross-gender Communication Men and women see things differently Men: see conversations as negotiations of status, insensitive to nonverbal cues Women: see conversations as bonding events, highly sensitive to nonverbal cues Differences may cause misunderstandings, lead to woman feeling alienated and subordinates feeling helpless

Women, Power Distance and Communication Closeness between boss and subordinate Generally, women are more approachable, better communicators, more understanding and empathetic Lower power distance, more harmonious work environment

Stereotyping Women Weak Family oriented Men Strong Work oriented  Stereotyping is the brain’s way of simplifying our understanding of the world

Role Conflict Extreme demands  Potential role conflicts among women who hold high positions in an organization Family responsibilities  The social perception that it is more suitable for women to fulfill the commitment to family responsibilities than men to do so

Effects of Social Role Violation Social roles  Expectations assigned to genders by society Violating those roles will can cause emotional stress In fact acting outside of society's expectations is stressful

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for stereotyping Encourage mixed gender work groups as well as organize cross-gender training and team-building programs. interpersonal contact is one of the most effective ways to reduce prejudice between group members. Working together in a team with the opportunity to communicate with each other can build trust among male and female employees, as they become familiar with each other’s different viewpoints.

Recommendations for Violation of Social Roles Create an internal society governed by meritocracy, implementing a strongly meritocratic, gender-blind corporate culture. Emphasize the importance of individual achievement and competence by rewarding members accordingly. Causing them to overlook the gender dimension entirely and focus on being a productive member of the organization.

Recommendations for Role Conflict According research by Fuwa and Cohen Average work 13.2 hours per week ; Husband is around 6.6 hours.. Full-time plus overtime, year-round, uninterrupted work-life in one occupation no longer sacrosanct. Flexible work time, four-day work weeks, optional overtime, training leaves Cope with family and work affair more easily due to flexi-work time Right work patterns, role conflict can be reduced Reducing stress levels and improving ability work effectively.

Do women in high positions bring any harm? Conclusion