Working with the Fairer Sex

I was recently asked to put together an article about my experiences working with women. Being a man in a workplace replete with the fairer sex (and that includes the person who asked me to write the article), I'm in a no-win situation. But I will brave the reactions, and tell it as I see it.

The Dietary

When I started here, I never thought that I would gain so much weight. Cookies, tarts, chocolates, cakes, you name it – they're regularly available, despite the fact that everyone in the office claims that they feel guilty eating them. A weekly farmers' market provides the excuse to forage for said sweets, and whenever those charged with the task return, the staff descends upon the booty like animals. Massed together, they then discuss the most pressing topics of the day: clothes, shoes, hairstyles and stylists, pedicures, and their latest recipes.

The Interpersonal

Interesting, too, while the discussions around the office dessert cart are sometimes heated – particularly when the boss brings up politics – they never end in animosity. And that's the advantage women have over men in the workplace. According to a 2005 study by Caliper, a management-consulting company based in Princeton, New Jersey, women leaders have an emotional advantage over men that derives from their generally stronger people skills. On the whole, the study found that women are much more sociable and show greater empathy towards coworkers than do men. I've learned to appreciate this here, where I'm always aware that the people around me are more interested in knowing how I feel, as opposed to what I think or do.

The Political

Alas, despite (or, perhaps, because of) this emphasis on emotional well-being, there is also a dark side to this seeming Shangri-la.

When people skills are treated as the most important skills on the job, those of us who lack them are, obviously, at a disadvantage. As a man, who also happens to be a bit of a misanthrope, I find it very difficult to hide my feelings. The truth is, there are times when I feel that that the rumor mill is churning and people are talking about me behind my back, and for no reason other than my desire to simply do my work and keep to myself. In my opinion, this is the tragic, but logical end-result of a workplace that over emphasizes emotional well-being, sociability, and consensus. As far as I'm concerned, that's the only real drawback to working with women.

The Future

While certain industries are still dominated by men, the days when a woman manager or CEO is considered unique are slowly coming to an end. A 2005 study of Finland's 500 largest companies reveals that those run by women are usually more profitable. A study undertaken in the United Kingdom suggests that by the year 2025, women will be the richer sex. But then, why look that far ahead? As the Financial Times reported in 2004, women in top corporate positions in Great Britain had, on average, higher salaries than their male counterparts.

And yet, one day I may eventually leave this job. I'll no doubt be drawn by the greater desire, innate to my gender, for emotional inwardness. And the hope that I'll find coworkers with whom I can discuss Monday night football and the finer points of tractor pulling. And that I might also lose some weight.

Discuss This Article

Have something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article.

Find a Job

Choose your career:

MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 17,366 jobs with 2,444 hospitals and other direct employers.

We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now.