Women Who Work with Women Managers and Peers

AuntieWOW · January 12th, 2001, 11:20 PM

There are so many women in the workforce today but yet very few in top management positions. There is a large percentage of women - 33% - in entry level positions that indicate that they do not want to work for a woman. What can we do to improve the image of women as managers/supervisors/CEO's and colleagues to change that attitude?

huee · April 26th, 2001, 02:39 AM

i'm not sure what we can do to change perceptions. i know that i work for several managers, 3 of whom are women, & they are way cool to work for. i think that part of the problem is that women have to strive so hard for the authority & respect that fall naturally to a male boss. therefore, women seem to fall into the trap of being "too serious" - yet if they weren't, they would get no respect at all. for instance, men generally can joke around & play a little bit w/out anyone questioning their competence. if women start to relax, they become "ditzes" & "bimbos", etc. it's a total double standard & i don't envy any of my bosses b/c i know they put up w/this every day. they are still awesome, tho! (i'm brown-nosing a bit - can you tell?)

Stophie · April 26th, 2001, 02:51 AM

(((((((((((HUEE)))))))))))))))

you aren't brown-nosing and you know it. I am going to be just as mean to you as I always am <grin>. I'm glad you are with me and not against me here. I have started to post here many times but as you know I could write a novel on this subject. I'm glad to have you back as an employee but dang sometime I wish you weren't so I could vent to ya more

Luv ya

roo · April 27th, 2001, 04:24 PM

I work in three places: district level and 2 schools. I am mainly in 1 school. That school has been characterized as a place of "strong women and weak men." All the power positions are held by women. All the men are either "feminist and mellow" or gay male. Straight men with power issues are not hired. Its interesting having a female boss and knowing the entire school district is afraid of her, LOL. She is a Yale Ph.D and that seems to intimidate them, plus her degree is in economics which really makes it interesting!

Sabra · July 28th, 2002, 11:38 AM

Well, a dear friend of mine who is gay and proud of it says " Behind every successful woman is a gay man!" I just thought I would interject a bit a Michael's humor here.

I'm an RN, have been for over 25 years and I mostly work with woman managers. Some are awesome and wonderful, others are not. Some see the entire picture, others don't. I've found those who see the entire picture are the best managers.

Curiously enough, I've found, in the last 15 years, as more and more males enter the world of nursing, the dynamics has changed dramatically. Where once it seemed everyone worked together as a team, now seems to be more of a war zone. Partly I think because the men feel threatened and want to do it their way, and partly the women feel the same. There is nothing more valuable than experience, however having experience doesn't negate new ideas, new ways to do things either.

February 12th, 2003, 01:57 PM

I'm really interested in the thoughts here about how it's different to work with and for other women. I?m actually writing a book exploring conflict and competition among women in the workplace, which aims to deal openly with how and why some women hurt each other on the job, and what we can do to begin cleaning up the mess. My hope is to generate an honest discussion about the more troubling dynamics that can unfold between working women, with the idea of fostering more productive and fulfilling professional relationships.
The book will be largely anecdotal, and I?m looking for women with stories to share who would be willing to take part in the project. All names and identifying characteristics will be changed. If interested, please e-mail me at mooneynan@hotmail.com.

crazyenglishwriter · April 23rd, 2006, 06:04 PM

I work in housing management, in an organisation where the workforce is predominantly female and where the management structure is 3:2 M/F in senior management and 1:3 M/F in middle management.
Of our 24 frontline staff there are 21 females and only 3 males but the staff preference is definitely for male managers.
It seems that female managers are seen as strong women and that somehow equates to being 'bitches'

... Just because we expect a high standard of work from our rather well paid staff.

I guess that while women remain unsupportive of their fellow women in the workplace, we will continue to have this imbalance

PoohsBigSister · April 24th, 2006, 12:23 PM

I work in an office that is completely 100% female. I absolutely love it! We have a lot of different personalities, and we do have clashes, but for the most part, it is a much better environment than any male/female I've ever worked in.!!

Napolitana <3 · June 30th, 2008, 08:43 AM

i work in a child care ALL WOMEN!! at first i really liked it but now i have been there 1year n /2.....and now i cant wait to leave!!! idk what happened but everyone got so catty talking shit behind everyones back ugh its just gross how everyone is i cant believe how rude ppl can be! but i did make some really good friendships but now im looking for a new job that has both male and female workers lol!

Betsy · August 11th, 2008, 10:30 PM

I'm a director of a large mental health program, and I supervise other managers. Our agency does very intensive work, and I'm really being challenged right now with a new manager who doesn't understand the nature of the intensity of the work. She allows her staff to get around her, and whines about the workloads and expectations of the staff. I've provided training, shadowed with her and given supportive feedback, made expectations clear, etc. I know my frustration is coming out as irritability, which isn't good for anyone. I feel like Sisyphus right now.

Sabra · August 11th, 2008, 10:43 PM

Then I'm thinking she isn't manager material.

PoohsBigSister · August 12th, 2008, 11:09 PM

Betsy! I am feeling that in my workplace right now. We even wrote out step by step instructions on how to do every phase of the job..and the new girl is STILL asking me how to do it...over and over and over and over and over...i finally snapped today and told her to READ THE INSTRUCTION SHEET BEFORE COMING TO ASK PLEASE.... sigh...

Betsy · August 17th, 2008, 09:03 PM

She may not be...I think the stress of her not following through is showing on me as well as some of the other managers who have to pick up the slack.

Sabra · August 18th, 2008, 12:39 AM

Then isn't it time to make a decision?

bclewis · February 1st, 2009, 09:04 AM

Would have been better for the sake of all who are practically involved in the field of occupation. I want to start my own business and then become the boss of things. But I know initiating such business would need me to have some form of government aids. Tried so much for grants but so far my tries have not yielded any results at all.

April 27th, 2001, 04:24 PM	#4
roo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 555	I work in three places: district level and 2 schools. I am mainly in 1 school. That school has been characterized as a place of "strong women and weak men." All the power positions are held by women. All the men are either "feminist and mellow" or gay male. Straight men with power issues are not hired. Its interesting having a female boss and knowing the entire school district is afraid of her, LOL. She is a Yale Ph.D and that seems to intimidate them, plus her degree is in economics which really makes it interesting! __________________ "Life is sweet / in spite of the misery / life is short, so be grateful." ~ Natalie Merchant

February 12th, 2003, 01:57 PM	#6
NanM Guest Posts: n/a	Conflict with other Women? I'm really interested in the thoughts here about how it's different to work with and for other women. I?m actually writing a book exploring conflict and competition among women in the workplace, which aims to deal openly with how and why some women hurt each other on the job, and what we can do to begin cleaning up the mess. My hope is to generate an honest discussion about the more troubling dynamics that can unfold between working women, with the idea of fostering more productive and fulfilling professional relationships. The book will be largely anecdotal, and I?m looking for women with stories to share who would be willing to take part in the project. All names and identifying characteristics will be changed. If interested, please e-mail me at mooneynan@hotmail.com.

April 23rd, 2006, 06:04 PM	#7
crazyenglishwriter Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 7	I work in housing management, in an organisation where the workforce is predominantly female and where the management structure is 3:2 M/F in senior management and 1:3 M/F in middle management. Of our 24 frontline staff there are 21 females and only 3 males but the staff preference is definitely for male managers. It seems that female managers are seen as strong women and that somehow equates to being 'bitches' ... Just because we expect a high standard of work from our rather well paid staff. I guess that while women remain unsupportive of their fellow women in the workplace, we will continue to have this imbalance __________________ Every time I close the door on reality it comes in through the windows

April 24th, 2006, 12:23 PM	#8
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	I work in an office that is completely 100% female. I absolutely love it! We have a lot of different personalities, and we do have clashes, but for the most part, it is a much better environment than any male/female I've ever worked in.!! __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

August 11th, 2008, 10:30 PM	#10
Betsy BKC Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Posts: 2	How do you work with women managers who whine? I'm a director of a large mental health program, and I supervise other managers. Our agency does very intensive work, and I'm really being challenged right now with a new manager who doesn't understand the nature of the intensity of the work. She allows her staff to get around her, and whines about the workloads and expectations of the staff. I've provided training, shadowed with her and given supportive feedback, made expectations clear, etc. I know my frustration is coming out as irritability, which isn't good for anyone. I feel like Sisyphus right now.

January 12th, 2001, 11:20 PM	#1
AuntieWOW Guest Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 64	There are so many women in the workforce today but yet very few in top management positions. There is a large percentage of women - 33% - in entry level positions that indicate that they do not want to work for a woman. What can we do to improve the image of women as managers/supervisors/CEO's and colleagues to change that attitude?

April 26th, 2001, 02:39 AM	#2
huee Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: TN Posts: 54	i'm not sure what we can do to change perceptions. i know that i work for several managers, 3 of whom are women, & they are way cool to work for. i think that part of the problem is that women have to strive so hard for the authority & respect that fall naturally to a male boss. therefore, women seem to fall into the trap of being "too serious" - yet if they weren't, they would get no respect at all. for instance, men generally can joke around & play a little bit w/out anyone questioning their competence. if women start to relax, they become "ditzes" & "bimbos", etc. it's a total double standard & i don't envy any of my bosses b/c i know they put up w/this every day. they are still awesome, tho! (i'm brown-nosing a bit - can you tell?)

April 26th, 2001, 02:51 AM	#3
Stophie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Tennessee Posts: 42	(((((((((((HUEE))))))))))))))) you aren't brown-nosing and you know it. I am going to be just as mean to you as I always am <grin>. I'm glad you are with me and not against me here. I have started to post here many times but as you know I could write a novel on this subject. I'm glad to have you back as an employee but dang sometime I wish you weren't so I could vent to ya more Luv ya

July 28th, 2002, 11:38 AM	#5
Sabra Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 208	Well, a dear friend of mine who is gay and proud of it says " Behind every successful woman is a gay man!" I just thought I would interject a bit a Michael's humor here. I'm an RN, have been for over 25 years and I mostly work with woman managers. Some are awesome and wonderful, others are not. Some see the entire picture, others don't. I've found those who see the entire picture are the best managers. Curiously enough, I've found, in the last 15 years, as more and more males enter the world of nursing, the dynamics has changed dramatically. Where once it seemed everyone worked together as a team, now seems to be more of a war zone. Partly I think because the men feel threatened and want to do it their way, and partly the women feel the same. There is nothing more valuable than experience, however having experience doesn't negate new ideas, new ways to do things either.

June 30th, 2008, 08:43 AM	#9
Napolitana <3 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NEW JERSEY! Posts: 81	i work in a child care ALL WOMEN!! at first i really liked it but now i have been there 1year n /2.....and now i cant wait to leave!!! idk what happened but everyone got so catty talking shit behind everyones back ugh its just gross how everyone is i cant believe how rude ppl can be! but i did make some really good friendships but now im looking for a new job that has both male and female workers lol!

August 11th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#11
Sabra Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 208	Then I'm thinking she isn't manager material.

August 12th, 2008, 11:09 PM	#12
PoohsBigSister Long Live WOW!! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: CO Posts: 1,791	Betsy! I am feeling that in my workplace right now. We even wrote out step by step instructions on how to do every phase of the job..and the new girl is STILL asking me how to do it...over and over and over and over and over...i finally snapped today and told her to READ THE INSTRUCTION SHEET BEFORE COMING TO ASK PLEASE.... sigh... __________________ "Life is a flower of which love is the honey." Victor Hugo

August 17th, 2008, 09:03 PM	#13
Betsy BKC Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Posts: 2	Manager Material? She may not be...I think the stress of her not following through is showing on me as well as some of the other managers who have to pick up the slack.

August 18th, 2008, 12:39 AM	#14
Sabra Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 208	Then isn't it time to make a decision?

February 1st, 2009, 09:04 AM	#15
bclewis Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2	Would have been better for the sake of all who are practically involved in the field of occupation. I want to start my own business and then become the boss of things. But I know initiating such business would need me to have some form of government aids. Tried so much for grants but so far my tries have not yielded any results at all. __________________ Grants