Computer Engineer Barbie And Workplace Gender Conflict
|
From Lorraine Segal's Conflict Remedy Blog March 2010 |
Computer Engineer Barbie just arrived with lots of publicity, but does this signify the end of gender conflict and discrimination at work?
True, Barbie has come a long way since she was programmed in 1992 to say “Math class is tough”, starting a firestorm of protest over the negative and stereotyped message for girls. Computer engineering offers far better employment opportunities than Malibu Barbie or Princess Barbie ever had. And real women scientists even helped accessorize her.
But none of this means Barbie will have an easy time in her newly chosen career . Consider the following:
- Only 5 years ago the president of Harvard attributed the lesser success of women in sciences to “innate differences” rather than discrimination.
- Only 27% of the scientific and engineering workforce today is female, and as a group they get less pay, prestige, grants, and appointments. (Judy Peet–New Jersey Star Ledger 3-21-10)
- The number of gender bias lawsuits women file and win each year hasn’t diminished. (Hidden Gender Bias in the Workplace–UC Hastings College of Law—HR April 2008)
- Women in nearly all job categories still receive less pay than men in those categories. ( workplacefairness.org 2010)
Clearly we have a long way to go before Barbie feels she has the same opportunities for hiring and advancement as Ken has had.
The good news is that the leaders of more organizations see the need for change. They want to avoid draining lawsuits and conflict, and get the advantage of everyone’s creative and productive potential.
A good start is to train their managers and employees about gender discrimination, its many forms and effects. Then, provide supportive training for everyone to look at their conscious and unconscious stereotypes and biases. If they can help people put aside their biases when hiring and evaluating job performance and instead use objective criteria, uniformly applied, gender based conflict at work will diminish.
Then, computer engineer Barbie and real women like her can have long, useful, and appreciated careers.
Biography
Lorraine Segal, M.A., has her own Sonoma County conflict & forgiveness coaching, mediation, and training business, Conflict Remedy, based in Santa Rosa, California. She also teaches in Sonoma State University’s Conflict Resolution certificate program and leads communication skills workshops and webinars on forgiveness, co-parenting skills, and communication. She specializes in transforming communication for divorced parents.
She has presented face to face or via teleseminar for ACR, ADRHub, Women’s Global Leadership Institute, local non profits and schools. Her coaching and mediation services are available by telephone as well as face to face. Her blog and more information about her and her services are available at www.ConflictRemedy.com
Comments
| Free subscription to comments on this article | Add Brief Comment |