Why Are People Weary Of Female Bosses? by Rambling Raven
By Raven • Aug 10th, 2009 • Category: Rambling Raven •
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Why Are People Weary Of Female Bosses? by Rambling Raven
We found out at the end of the last school year that our principal was retiring, and that we may get a new administration, if the assistant principal didn’t secure the job of principal. The entire ordeal was just maddening. There were a lot of politics involved and morale among the teachers dipped once we understood that what we said about the situation didn’t mean very much to the powers that be. Most of us were rooting for the assistant principal to become principal. He was an energetic and dedicated man. The staff knew that he was in our corner; he believed in us and had a vision for the school. Well, to make a long story short, he didn’t get the job much to our dismay.
When it was made official that a new administration would be named to the school, many people openly voiced their concern that it would be a woman. Now, ninety-percent of the staff is female, so much of the gripping came from women. I was a little surprise but I had heard such things said about female bosses many times before. Most of those who were wishing that the new principal was a male stated that in their experiences female principals were a difficult bunch. The issues they had with female bosses were that they tended to be somewhat catty, cliquish, and overly asserted their powers just to show everyone who was the boss. And, in some instances, they found themselves in competition with other women on the job.
I had heard such things before regarding female bosses. And I certainly had a run in or two with a bitchy boss in my lifetime, so I understood the concern. However, I couldn’t help but to think that some of the negative things attributed to women in power were just sexist, even though most of the comments came from women themselves. I also believe that female bosses are often caught in a catch-22. On one hand, if they show any sign of weakness people assume that they are not emotionally prepared for the job. On the other hand, if a female boss shows that she is a no nonsense type of person then she risked being classified as a bitch. Therefore, I believe that many get a bad rep because they are afraid to come off as a pushover. And we all know that although people may not like a bitchy boss they will surely give her more respect than one that is perceived as a pushover.
Last week the staff at my school was officially introduced to our new leader. And yes it is a woman. She is highly educated and has a great vision for our school. She has the ability to effortlessly, switch between being the funny “girlfriend” and the down-to-business boss. The new principal is young, not yet forty. She is younger than many on her staff. Yet, she appears confident and able to tackle anything that comes her way. Watching her in action I was both proud and a little apprehensive. I was proud to see this capable young black woman at the head of my school. I was a little apprehensive because I hoped that she didn’t fall into any of the clichés that people attributed to female bosses. I hope that she doesn’t become cliquish, or throw her power around just for the hell of it. Instead I wish her well for she has a long career ahead of her and I hope she proves that she is just as capable of leading honestly and fairly as any man can.
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Raven is an educator with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in Education. She has been an avid reader since childhood. Her favorite genres are mystery, suspense, and horror, although she will give any genre a try. She is a life long resident of Chicago. Her love of books opened her mind to people, places and events far beyond her Chicago home. Reading helped to shape her world and her opinion of the events that took place within it. No matter what demands her career requires of her, she has always found time to read and write in a journal. Along with reading and journaling, she loves to watch the sunset, and discuss hot topics with family and friends. She loves baseball, horror movies, mysteries, listening to music from every corner of the world and expressing her view of the latest books with the women of APOOO.
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Interesting post.
As a female boss – my expereinces have been a little different – maybe it is because I was a female boss in an organization where most of the bosses are male and most of the population is white.
But one thing I do know that when a “new” boss comes in expecially if the team thinks that their choice was not listened to, it is a difficult position for the new boss. And I have seen more than my share of white male bosses with the same traits as you attributed to black female bosses – so to me it is more about the person as to what type of boss that they will be.
But, yes, female bosses, especially a minority one, will have the spotlight on her more than a male boss and so a male boss could be doing the same thing as a female boss as it goes unnoticed.
Besides working though your school issues, I am sure she was given her marching orders from senior management.
But, glad ot see a young black female the opportunity to lead – which deals me she must be very good (probably more like twice as good as someone older).
I’ve had both male and female bosses…and until recently my favorite bosses were all men. However, my current boss is a female…but she’s also younger and hasn’t been jaded by life yet…nor does she take herself too seriously. She’s good at listening and she works hard and plays hard. Because I’ve been in my job for five years now…and based upon her interaction with me…she knows that I know what I’m doing so she allows me to work very independently. She doesn’t sweat the small stuff and she’s not a bitch…which is more than I can say for prior female bosses. Fortunately, I’ve had good relationships with all of my bosses except one…but I do believe that female bosses tend to be a little more anal and controlling than men. Probably because we had to scratch, claw a few more eyeballs just to get to where we are today. But, bottom line we should remember to treat all God’s creatures the way we would like to be treated…because the folks we step on going up will be the same folks we will have to grovel to when we come back down.
Yasmin´s last blog ..Why Are People Weary Of Female Bosses? by Rambling Raven
It depends on the person. If a female, particularly ethnic woman is secure in herself, willing to listen, and personable (must be a people person), it is easier to work with. The business department manager, a black woman, came in, didn’t want to listen and crowed about her private industry management (which doesn’t fly in educational setting) and just made life miserable for the staff. She falls intot he stereotype that your co-workers were fearful of. Your new principal sounds like she is grounded but the proof is in the pudding, as they say.
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Great post and I agree with Yas on female bosses.
My gf is going to be a principal this school year. She was an AP and the principal was a Asian lady and she admitted to my gf that she hired her to work work with the AA parents
She understands the challenges and hopefully it won’t be too difficult for her
Hopefully it’ll be okay. If she’s about her business and not there to make friends, you shouldn’t have any problems. The only issue I’ve ever had with a female boss is the fact they were too busy trying to be everybody’s friends instead of being professional. Don’t get me wrong, you should get along with your staff, but there’s a thin line between being a boss and being a friend.
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As a female boss, I have to agree with Shelia, my first job as a female boss was as a manager at Walmart…I tried to hard and wore myself out, that was my learning curve. I knew from that point that business was business and personal was personal and how to keep the two separate. Not to say I could not be friendly, but I had to and have to be discerning and circumspect.
angelia
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