The Office: Still A Man's World?

Gail Collins wrote another great book, "America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges and Helpmates." If you ever feel overworked, just read the chapter on a woman's life in the colonies and you'll feel like a total slacker!

My mother was sued when she ran for office. Why? She had never changed her name when she married. Her opponent said she had no right to use her own name. At the time, it was "normal" to take a husband's name upon marrying. To me, that is part of the point, discrimination appears cloaked in "normalcy" and that is part of why it is so hard to get rid of. Its not gone either.

i think there are plenty of men out there who aren't interested in sports but if that's the glue that bonds their workmates together they make sure they know the score from last night's game before going to work in the morning. That part of things is no different from "getting" interested in golf or art or running or a particular cause because your boss (male or female) is, or going out to a bar even though you don't drink because that's what your colleagues do.

Sometime there is a common interest that binds coworkers together. If you don't choose to schmooze that way that's OK. Find another way to connect. But I don't think you can complain that you're feeling penalized because you don't want to be interested in whatever it is that everyone else likes.

Regarding the basketball games, could women colleagues join in if they wanted to? Could they hang out and watch the games so they can be in on the conversation? Does Obama make a point of connecting with the non-hoops playing people in the west wing in other ways? the games per se aren't a problem. It's really how a manager manages and how he/she values and interacts with people over all. And how those people take it upon themselves to manage the relationship.

http://twitter.com/extremecareer

There is no doubt men are in control and one day women will take control. But, how is that going to bring happiness in your life. Is your life just for earning money and spending it. Do you believe that God created us just to make money for some 80 years and die? Have you ever thought about life beyond that? Do you believe in one God and that he is in power over all things and that he didn't create men and women just to live in this world for some 100 years. Think hard and think wise. Please don't misunderstand me, as I am not asking you to stop working. You should work and achieve something and support yourselves and your family. But, don't get too caught up just too much in the worldly affairs and lose the big picture. God has promised us the eternal ilfe only in the heaven or hell. We will be living there some trillions and trillions of years. So, prepare for that as well. Submit yourselves to one God, take care of your family, respect all human beings, pray, donate. If you need to know more and be wise read Koran.

Ah yes, feminism. What a joke.

That's why you (men) shouldn't marry the entitled, abrasive and manly American princesses the media pumps out. Personally, I can only hope I end up with an eastern European or Asian woman.

Woman are currently having their cake and eating it too. Somethings gotta give.

Cathy:

I'm going to assume that you've dated guys in the past or are married. You know then that on certain days of the week it happens to be guy time. It would seem to me that Obama is simply looking for some guy time during these periods. The New York times supports this view by saying "while Mr. Obama does place women in important roles, his comfort level with staff members is not always perceived as equal."

Many men need guy time at certain times of the week just as some girls need girl time. The staff team that Obama works with are his friends since he is around them so much. When he needs to unwind he hangs out with the guys. Just as it would be weird for me ask my girlfriend to let me go out with her when she is with her girlfriends it would be weird for her to ask to come to a poker night with my guy friends.

I don't mean this as an ad hominem attack, but it seems that your past experiences are coloring your perception of the issue. One example you give is, "I’m particularly sensitive to this issue because I have no interest in professional sports. This failure on my part has often left me looking on with a weak smile while the editors I’ve worked for throughout my career (virtually all men) talked about last night’s game.".

The women white house staffers do not seem to be upset by the issue. Mark Liebovich says, "In interviews, five women who work in the White House or advised officials there described the culture with more of a collective eye-roll than any real sense of grievance or discomfort."

I would be lying if I said that not knowing NBA scores has not helped me develop a better connection with some of my bosses, but trying to act like you like sports if you don't is disingenuous. Sports are not the only way to develop a good connection with your boss or move your career forward. I may not be able to relate to my female bosses/co-workers on baking cookies, but might find out we went to the same college.

Good article and commentary. True, it hasn't been that long. Maybe our media folks should take this into account when they write articles about the "repression" of women around the world, i.e., drama-fueled exposes about Islamic veils, etc.