Be a woman. Don't try to be a man.

[little_O]

So true Rouge.

I love being a woman. We have so many other qualities that a man doesnt (and visa versa), that make us different and unique and this should be celebrated.

I personally hate the competition between man and woman. If we all just worked together with respect it would make such a difference. Even in a marriage each partner brings in qualities to complement the relationship. I dont want to be my husband and he doesnt want to be me.

The same is in a work place. We have abilities and qualities that another wont have. We dont have to fit into a mould!

[sushee]

I think the main message I see missing from the mentoring of women is that if you try to compete with a man by trying to emulate their skills, instead of using the best attributes that you have at your disposal as a woman, then you're fighting a losing battle, because you aren't utilising the best of you to achieve the outcomes required.

I think the argument should be less about what I bring to the table as opposed to what a man brings to a table because that insinuates that somehow he will be deficient, or I will be. I think that especially in the corporate world, there are many ways to 'skin a cat' and depending on the circumstance, a different approach can facilitate as good, if not a better, outcome. And that doesn't necessarily denote a lack of skill in other areas, either.

I work in a predominantly male profession. It's white collar so it's not about physical aptitude. But I guess you could say that the view that someone in my profession needs to be hard nosed and authoritarian.

And I can be if I need to be (which is what I mean when I say you can't assume that being a certain sex means you won't have that skill-set), but my natural preference in my approach is to build rapport, work alongside instead of command from above, and very often, that is seen as a weakness (because I'm a woman?). Strangely enough though, I have developed a reputation for delivering where others haven't. And I believe it is because my well-honed skills in different areas are able to provide an outcome where the traditional 'hard nosed' approach has failed. A man, should he was so inclined, could easily take the same approach, if he had similar skills.

So I absolutely believe that any person should work to their best skills and attributes and to do any less would be a disservice to them and to the work they do. Where the fork is the road happens though is that traditionally, a woman's skills have been considered "weaknesses", and that's the issue I take most with all the 'work like a man' bs that's spouted often. That somehow being a woman with a woman's skills are seen as a hindrance. Both men and women in the corporate world believe this. This is where the inequality stems from.

I am very pleased to work like a woman and achieve outcomes as well as any man, and achieve in situations where 'working like a man' hasn't worked. Recognition of the specific skills I bring (as a woman and a unique human being), in as much as as you would recognise a man's skill in a similar situation, is where true equality comes from.

[Lenny]

I agree Rouge. I don't think there would be a moment where he would look around and think, damn, i'm going to have to act more womanly to get ahead around here (jokes aside). In fact he might be such a rare commodity that his gender gets more recognition than his actual output, ITMS.