This chapter explores the experiences of bias and sexism in the speakers' careers, discussing instances of feeling out of place at events, having ideas stolen, and the importance of recognizing bias. They highlight the different categories of bias and offer advice on handling bias in a male-dominated field. The chapter also touches on seeking validation and processing incidents of bias, as well as the impact of rumination and self-concept.
Sexism is everywhere in workplaces, from people’s expectations about how women look and act to companies’ inadequate or unfair parental leave policies. Still, it can be shocking when you realize—or suspect—that you’re the target of that bias. Perhaps you sense someone is interrupting you over and over because you’re a woman. Or, you receive an end-of-year rating that just doesn’t align with your actual performance, and no one can (or will) explain the discrepancy.
Is there any way to know for sure whether something that a colleague or client did—or neglected to do—is sexism? When is confronting that person worth it? And if you’ll never know what drove their actions, how do you make peace with the uncertainty? Amy G talks through these questions with two professors who study perceptions and gender stereotypes.
Guest experts:
Katie Coffman is an economist and professor at Harvard Business School, where she studies how stereotypes impact our beliefs about ourselves
Michelle Duguid is a professor and the associate dean of diversity, inclusion, and belonging at Cornell.
Resources:
Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter.
Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org