If A Male CEO Says Women Should NOT Play At Men’s Games …
Should you tar and feather him? Should you ignore him? Should you be curious and read what I have to say … and maybe even follow me?
As an investor in Innovation Women — a company focused on empowering women and making them more visible, I wanted the brand of the company to not just surface and repair gender inequity but also be fun. During a brain storming session about our brand, I suggested that the brand of the company should show how women in business can be fun and funny. I was somewhat taken aback by some women leaders within the company cautioning about bias against funny and assertive women.
Unfortunately, there is such a bias and it is well documented. This paper in the American Psychological Association suggests that humor by women in presentations across multiple industries is punished. This study in the Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that funny women are not promoted! Performance review for men and women show remarkably clearly that assertiveness by women is viewed negatively.
On deeper consideration we asked — if men are setting the rules, should women play? Should our brand be beholden or overturn this nonsense? Should anyone play at a game where the rules have been set against them? Does the house not always win? Is it not time for women to refuse to play stacked odds and…
