I'm hoping to generate a discussion with this!

10 Comments

1. AnonymousMarch 18,2022 at 1:46PM UTC

   This is unfortunate but most definitely true in many cases I've experienced personally. Working with male superiors especially in higher positions seemed to have been more professional, less petty, problematic and it's very unfortunate. We can't seem to get out of our own way.

   If we actually worked together, we could be unstoppable.

   I think the first step would be to deal with it honestly. It seems like a very simple thing to say but the hardest thing for us as women to do as a group.

2. Kimberley Ferretti HammettMarch 18,2022 at 2:19PM UTC

   I don't know the full answer to that but I think of the Gandhi quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world". I try to consistently pull up, encourage, empower and generally help other women in their career. If I find there is someone who wants to be in a similar position as myself I don't just tell them things I did right, I tell them things I could've done better and try to get them one step ahead of where I was when I was in their shoes.

   I have definitely experienced other women "standing in my way" but most of the time, for me, it felt less about competition and more that they, themselves, faced many obstacles and seemed to feel it was unfair if my path was seemingly easier than theirs (that was often their perception, not necessarily reality). I've been pushed toward a career move I wasn't comfortable with (and in my eyes, a step back) and told "you have to pay your dues, I did" even though it was really not the right place for me to use my best skills and I had already demonstrated higher performance from the freedom and special projects my previous (male) boss gave me. The same woman gave lots of positive attention to another female employee who looked up to and wanted to be "just like her" so I never got the impression she felt threatened, she just had an idea about paths and I think she felt I was skipping a step.

   Maybe beyond being the change ourselves, we encourage the idea that a leaders success is most visible by the success of the people they develop? We should celebrate the women who help each other as much as the successes and encourage a culture of progress, not cycles. A corporate culture of removing obstacles for the next "generation".

3. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMarch 18,2022 at 5:30PM UTC

   So important to remember that we can't change anyone but ourselves. Work towards being the best version of yourself you can possibly be...and allow that light to shine onto the women who are around you.

   Much as with romantic relationships, two halves do NOT make a whole. It is when two whole, complete people come together that magic happens.

   Work towards becoming the complete YOU and you will attract complete women. Magic!

4. AnonymousMarch 19,2022 at 2:12AM UTC

   This is true and is very complex .

   Unfortunately most of the leadership that we see is men and people who promote women are men too in most cases. This leads to a lot of competition amongst women. Just one example I remember from some conferences I usually go out and seek other women and hang out with them but there are women who will try their best to stay away from other women and network with the men leaders. Well... they are just networking to be fair to them ....but the women who are hanging out together they may snigger and talk about it... this situation I believe just cannot be won . I guess we all have to figure out our way. The best thing one can do is to help other women , appreciate if other women helps you, and praise and give credit to other women peers who are doing well and rightfully shining in their job , maybe outshining you, same as you will praise your male peers.

5. Debra SesholtzMarch 19,2022 at 2:17PM UTC

   Have experienced this and have wondered the same thing.

   We can only control our own behavior and should model the behavior we would like to receive. Hopefully as more women rise to leadership roles and exhibit inclusive, supportive behavior, the fear some women feel will lessen. As women, we need to work together to lift each other up and celebrate our successes.

6. AnonymousMarch 19,2022 at 9:20PM UTC

   Generally if a women is outshining and climbing the corporate ladder based on her capabilities, hard work and is competent usually other women do not become an obstacle but if a woman is using other means such as politics, taking others credit , faviouritism etc then other women call it out.

7. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 4:11AM UTC

   This is the most common route I've seen. The women who were promoted were the same women who would play politics and throw people under the bus. They did not want to share their wisdom or mentor. but tell everyone what to do and create a "pecking order" with them at the top. They are often the same women who will be rude to you in a 1:1 interview or upon first meeting them when you enter a company. They will act as a gatekeeper and pretend as if you need to suffer first like them. to get to somewhere that isn't 50k a year. Then defame the competent people when they don't understand how their jobs work or how to effectively manage them.

8. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 8:43AM UTC

   Dear....

   To be honest; I do not see male/female leaders. I only see good/bad leaders and I have experienced them all in my +30 years of career.
   It is true that male leaders sometimes choose another man to join their club simply because they feel more connected to another man in mindset. They can small talk about cars, sports etc.. Where female leaders often go for the best candidate for the position - which is not always another woman.
   From employee perspective, some female employees expect a female leader is to be more in tune with female topics. That a female leader is to be more understanding, compassionate etc. towards own gender. So when these soft-skill competences are not in sync with the employee, the person may come down with harder critique towards a female leader than a male leader without asking oneself: am I asking too much here just because we are of the same gender ?
   And maybe some women are more overbearing with male leaders that fails or simply sucks with the excuse that he is just a man.
   Never the less: women often set the standard higher for female leaders instead of setting the general standard high towards a leader with no regards of the gender.

9. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 6:32PM UTC

   You don't think it's because they're not freemasons? Because in America women aren't allowed to be in that club.

10. AnonymousMarch 20,2022 at 6:53PM UTC

    Other countries allow female freemasons, why not USA? They have a lodge in every city. How they are everwhere but no one even notices and there are no women involved is a mystery.