Stereotype Threat

Women deal with many stereotypes in the workplace. We had just talked about in my Anthropology class that boys and girls are raised differently to fit in gender stereotypes. Boys are raised to be interruptive and dominant while girls are raised to be caring and a follower. I am glad we are moving away from the stereotype of who we see as leaders. Women are now more likely to pursue a leadership position, but still face others thinking she is too ‘bossy’ or ‘mean’. Many believe that they are taking on ‘masculine’ traits, as if women could not be their own boss.

The readings reminded me a lot of the ideas of intersectionality, especially the article by Dr.Hoyt. Women experience a variety of stereotype threats. Other identities such as ethnicities or race can factor into how others see them in the workplace because society’s idea of a leader is a White male. It is difficult to understand the experience of a woman in a leadership position as so many other variables factor into their experiences. I admire seeing women succeed in their field, even against all the obstacles and behaviors of others. It is refreshing to see a woman in power, and I hope there will be an era where we do not judge someone for not fitting a stereotype that has long been outdated.

One thought on “Stereotype Threat

  1. Ellen Curtis

    Your response makes me think about the double bind of female leaders, where highly communal women are criticized for being deficient leaders and highly agentic women experience backlash for not being feminine enough. It is a lose-lose situation for women in leadership that just illustrates how people have so much bias toward men in leadership positions.

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