When women think about the impact of gender stereotypes in the workplace, they often think about what they can do to avoid, overcome, or confront the workplace biases that flow from them. We’re addressing these biases and offering suggestions for dealing with them by using attuned gender communication. But women focusing on the stereotypes that other people have about them should not obscure the importance of the stereotypes that women have about themselves: their talents, capacities, resources, and appropriate objectives and activities. Because of the stereotypes women hold about themselves, they tend to choose “gender appropriate” college majors, jobs, and assignments; choose to take on a greater share of family and domestic responsibilities than their male partners; and choose to accept career-limiting gender roles in their workplaces.
When women think about the impact of gender stereotypes in the workplace, they often think about what they can do to avoid, overcome, or confront the workplace biases that flow from them. We’re addressing these biases and offering suggestions for dealing with them by using attuned gender communication. But women focusing on the stereotypes that other people have about them should not obscure the importance of the stereotypes that women have about themselves: their talents, capacities, resources, and appropriate objectives and activities. Continue reading “The Apple In The Room: Avoiding The Temptation To Buy Into Traditional Gender Stereotypes”