Taking Sides

In my course, "Contemporary Topics in Management," students are assigned issues to debate from Street and Street's (2007) book, TAKING SIDES: CLASHING VIEWS IN MANAGEMENT. Two of the debates took me down memory lane; one was on gender discrimination, and the other was about affirmative action's effectiveness.

While I have not paved the path the way women in an earlier generation had to do, I have certainly bumped my head on the proverbial "glass ceiling." I guess you could call the memories somewhat painful, in that regard.

Enjoying a relatively successful career in corporate America, I felt that I had mastered my current responsibilities, and proposed an increase in responsibilities (and a promotion) to my boss. He acknowledged that I was an "excellent manager," but thought I should go off and work in the Human Resources department. (I have nothing against HR professionals, but at this company, moving to that department was the "kiss of death" to careers.) Some time later, after I had left the company to pursue my doctorate, I stopped by to say hello to this boss (Career advice note: never burn bridges, no matter how much you want to blow them up). In the course of my visit, I learned that my he had hired a former (male) colleague into the department. When I asked, "so what is 'John Doe' doing for you," my former boss acknowledged, "It's basically the job you suggested." Ouch!

Then there was the time when I was a contract consultant for a management consulting group. After a very successful year-long engagement (where I accepted a lower wage because it was local so I didn't have to travel away from my toddler), the company started sending me on out-of-town assignments. After traveling to an assignment, which took 6-8 hours of travel time each way, and resulted in a satisfied client, I returned home and wrote a proposal to the company president. In it, I respectfully requested that they pay me at a higher rate, which I believe would have put me on parity with the rest of the Senior Associates. The president was so incensed that I would dare to ask for more money, he fired me (sort of -- it was a project-by-project relationship, so he really just didn't give me any more projects). Did I mention that I was the only female consultant? Ouch!

On the Affirmative Action front, as I completed my PhD at a top tier institution, and started interviewing for an academic position, I had two troubling site visits. In both cases, I met with only male colleagues -- and in both cases they hired someone who "was already teaching for them." I really felt that they interviewed me to go through the motions of considering a woman candidate. I may be wrong -- but I am not in doubt.

I also have no doubt that the status of women is improving. Gone are the days when, as a sales engineer representing computer-aided design software, I had a lunch meeting with customers while "enjoying" a lingerie show throughout the meal. Did I mention that I was the only (fully-dressed) female at the table?

These days, gender discrimination is more insidious, and I would like to think, mostly unconscious. Business golf is a classic example. I play at golf, and consider myself a social golfer, a 9-hole scrambler. I was at an executive retreat, where the guys were pulling together a golf outing. They invited me -- but there is no way I am able to play 18 holes (on a mountain course). Were they trying to leave me out? No, but I am confident that they don't know any working mothers who can play 18 holes of golf, because I sure don't know any!

Let me "tee up" another example: we have a local golf tournament and fund-raiser in our town. I used to look forward to playing with colleagues and would feel good about my contributions to our team (the occasional awesome shot and my handicap). They changed the format and don't include handicaps anymore -- so I'm out of the game. Were they trying to leave me out? No, but I bet they have far fewer women playing in the tournament.

Do I believe gender discrimination still exists? Yes. But I try to proactive and direct about it, now that I'm in the second half of my career (do NOT call me "over the hill"). Sometimes, when I think the discrimination isn't deliberate, I use humor to create awareness. More importantly I try very hard to mentor the generations of working women that follow me -- and create some understanding in the young men that I teach.