That individuals suffer is bad enough. But what amazes me is the “effectiveness” of the collective cultural and social forces in play that “favour” the male in positions of power. It has been going on for a lot of years!. It amazes me but even more it depresses me.

I am totally convinced that if whatever is causing the unbalance were rectified:
1. We would not have had the global financial crisis we have/are having
2. Religions would not have caused as much suffering as they have
3. Wars and killing people would not be an option to find a solution to a disagreement
4. People would not be dying of hunger
5. The environment would not be three quarters screwed

I’m not sure that’s 100% bad. Because it’s also a field that respects quality work. That is, she *can* prove herself which is quite different than if the men were closed-minded about it. And actually, I wonder if the way the women are treated isn’t how the men should be treated, too. “Prove yourself,” isn’t a bad thing to hear at all.

I find women and men treated very differently in the work place. I am an engineer. I would say that less than 10% of the engineers I work with are women.

This leads to interesting behavior. Needless to say attractive women engineers get a lot of “attention”. Most resent it. Some exploit it.

Universities and business that are subject to quotas spend a lot of time and money recruiting women. Women engineers average 2 to 5% more coming out of school compared to their male counterparts. But I noticed there is a definite glass ceiling for women. They usually rise to middle management and then languish there. That is when the good old boy network kicks in.

One of the best bosses I had was a woman. We nicknamed her mom, because she was always looking out for us. She could be strict or tough if she had to be. But she preferred to encourage us. She scared to the good old boys to death. So they kept giving her one loser group after another so she would fail. But she had the audacity to turn each group around. Every loser group she lead turned into top performers. Unfortunately she got a rare virus and had to go onto extended leave. The good old boys took all her good clients away that she had carefully built up. When she came back she got demoted because she didn’t meet revenue goals. She eventually went to another company, where she did very well. I see that type of behavior a lot.

Mike

Are women really treated differently to men in the workplace? In my experience as a woman who has been frequently disadvantaged by gender-based double standards, absolutely.

Regarding the man you spoke with recently, it is also my experience that those who are advantaged by double standards are far less likely to notice them than those who are disadvantaged.
 
 
“On a related note, do you find the people around you frequently gender bash? [...] If you are frequently exposed, do you believe it has an impact on you?”

Do I find the people around me frequently gender bash? Absolutely, and lots of other bashing as well. Do I believe it has an impact on me? Absolutely.

I feel a lot of unhappiness and sometimes despair when I observe bigotry of any kind, especially if the ones doing it are unaware of what they are doing, and more especially if the ones doing it don’t care when this is pointed out to them. This is partly because it reminds me of my own experiences of being on the receiving end (which have always been very unpleasant), and partly because I know that this is an indication that the human suffering resulting from such behaviour is more than likely to continue indefinitely.

I have also observed that the targets of one kind of discrimination or bashing are sometimes prone to repeat this behaviour against others, and the unhappy, unpleasant cycle continues. I think that’s an impact most of us are likely to have experienced to some degree. I feel very depressed about that.

Many people have donated to help the people in Haiti, which I think is great because many people like to help reduce human suffering. What depresses me is that so many people are so very willing to help strangers far away, yet many of the same people frequently disregard those in need who are close to home.

I think that no matter who does it and to whom, disrespectful, discriminatory double standards adversely impact us all. I also think that no matter who does it and for whom, respectful, warm and helpful behaviour benefits us all.

I don’t think women are discriminated against any more. If anything it is the opposite. Men can’t say nothing to women at work without being accused of sexual harassment. I stay away from them.