User:KSKCSUN

Memorandum
Date: October 18, 2009

From: Shannon Mathie, Kami Talebi, Karina Tovar

Subject: Gender Issues in the Workplace

The proportion of women in the work place has increased 5% since 1980 whereas the number of women in management positions has increased 19% in the same period. (Powell & Graves, 2003) The integration of women in the work force has caused many conflicts for both genders.

Separation of men and women due to gender roles, stereotypes, and gender differences:

· Often, men see themselves as stronger and superior to women

· Women are thought of sensitive and emotional, making them unreliable.

· Women are seen as sex objects

· Women prefer more nonverbal communication to show that the listener understands what is being said.

· Men tend to be more abrasive and overpowering in conversation.

Problems women face:

· Dismission: Sometimes a women’s opinion is not seen to be worth as much of a man and their work is not taken seriously.

· Tested: Women often have to work harder than men to make a good impression.

· Exclusion: Networking opportunities tend to exclude women.(out for drinks, golfing)

Problems men face:

· Confused and Careful: Men are afraid that anything they might do may offend women and are unclear of the “rules”

· Reverse Discrimination: To avoid being accused of discrimination, workplaces may offer a woman a position over a man.

· Believe in the "Good old days": In the 21st century, both men and women work. Men have this belief that Men go to work and women clean & cook.

Solutions for Management:

· Management must learn to recognize and appreciate gender differences as positive qualities which can serve as assets for the organization.

· Include women in business events.

· Create a set of “rules” so that men can be more clear on how to approach women and are able to feel more comfortable when communicating.

Example of Todays Gender Issues:

· InternationBizConference.com mentions:

"[S]ome companies set some rules that prohibited some pregnant ladies to have some day off when they start to enter the birth periods. This is a crucial moment for the pregnant ladies. These are what those activists are concerned about. There are still some many disrespects for the women’s rights. Base on the evaluation, those pregnant ladies still have the good working performance, but somehow they still don’t have any better choice from the companies."

This information simply highlights the problems people are facing from gender issues. There has been a lot of controversy about men having power over women. Today not only do women get discriminated, but men get ignored in order for a business to give the impression they find women to be equal. At your work place it is important be aware of your surroundings. A good work environment allows every employee to feel comfortable and safe so that they can do their best job.

External Links:

·http://www.internationalbizconference.com/gender-issues-today.html