Working in a Male-Dominated Environment: A Stressor?

by Caroline | Sep 9, 2015 | double bind, double bind, gendered definitions of leadership, masculine communication style, masculine workplace, obstacles for women in business, progress of women, Strengths of women's leadership, unconscious images, unconscous mind-sets, Women in management | 0 comments

New research confirms what we know. Being one of very few women in a “male-dominated” organization or field can be stressful. Researchers found high levels of the stress hormone cortisol (“linked with later negative health outcomes”) in women in this situation. Even in industries where women are well represented, men dominate upper levels of management. It is stressful to walk the tightrope of the “double bind” and work to be heard and seen as competent. So my guess is that this research is applicable to many many women in business.