Is this sexist against my own kind?
2009 October 27
I’m not sure if I can work with women. Is this wrong? It feels wrong. It feels really wrong. Especially because I went to an all women’s college.
But in my experience, things get emotional, passive-aggressive, and overly-sensitive when dealing with all women in a work environment. I know this is exactly what some men used to say about us, and why we fought so hard to let women climb the corporate ladder as high as the men could go. But I can’t help but think that some of it is true!
I feel terrible. Someone prove me wrong. Can women work together in peace?!
there, there…don’t feel terrible
No, it’s not sexist, it’s self-aware. A lot of women prefer all-female environments so that they can avoid sexual harassment, the glass ceiling, and subtle discrimination, but in my experience, work isn’t half as fun when your colleagues PMS cycles sync up with yours. I like a good half and half, or a 3 guys:1 woman ratio, so that you have girl buddies, but the emotions are a little more…spread out? I don’t know how to put all this without sounding like I’m longing for the 1950’s, but I totally feel you. Even when it comes to small groups, classrooms, groups of friends, I much prefer when there’s a couple of guys there.
There’s way more drama amongst the men in my office than there is with the women. I have about a 3 men:1 woman ratio here. Could be a different situation though considering most of the men in my office are related.
It’s not sexist to identify and respond to differences between sexes!! We make allowances for people’s abilities, faiths, family circumstances…of course we should consider gender. Our office is (well, was before everyone left) mixed and we work brilliantly because not only is there a gender split (2♂:3♀) but we take into account each other’s strengths and weaknesses when allocating work and dealing with stuff that comes up.
Good luck…