In movies and TV shows, women in the workplace are often pitted against each other to ramp up the drama and tension among characters. Think Meryl Streep’s fabulous “Miranda Priestley” in The Devil Wears Prada. But does is this kind of “Queen Bee” behavior true in real life? Or more of an exaggeration? And f it is true, why would women sabotage other women in the workplace?

During this episode, Aileen and Glenda delve into the controversial topic of workplace “Queen Bees”, discussing research on the topic that can be both enlightening and infuriating. We also share highlights from our fascinating conversation with Andie Kramer, who is an accomplished attorney, a nationally recognized authority on gender equality, a best-selling author on the subject and someone who’s worked tirelessly to increase women’s leadership opportunities.

Andie and her husband and co-author Al Harris have written three award-winning books: Beyond Bias: The PATH to Ending Gender Inequality at Work; Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work; and It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias That Built It. They are contributing writers to Harvard Business Review’s On Women and Leadership, and Andie is a contributing writer on gender issues in the workplace for Forbes.com. They are also the authors of hundreds of articles on diversity and overcoming gender stereotypes that have been featured in a wide variety of national media outlets including HBR.org, The HuffPost, The New York Times, NBC News, The Chicago Tribune, and Fast Company.

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EPISODE SOURCES

Books

- Beyond Bias: The PATH to Ending Gender Inequality at Work, by Andie S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris

[- It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias That Built It, by Andie S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris](its not you its the workplace)

- Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work, by Andie S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris

- The Stiletto in Your Back: The Good Girl's Guide to Backstabbers, Bullies, Gossips and Queen Bees at Work, by Michelle Villalobos

-Mean Girls, Meaner Women: Understanding Why Women Backstab, Betray and Trash-Talk Each Other and How to Heal, by Erika Holiday and Joan I. Rosenberg

- Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry, by Susan Shapiro

Articles:

Why Women Don't Always Support Other Women - Forbes.com

Sheryl Sandberg on the Myth of the Catty Woman - The New York Times

Why Do Women Bully Each Other at Work?

Queen Bee syndrome: Workplace inequality encourages women to sabotage one another

https://www.gailgoldenconsulting.com/insights/the-myth-of-the-bad-female-boss

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMBrR5YgfC0

Credits:
This episode was produced, written and edited by Aileen Merciel
Executive Producers are Aileen Merciel and Glenda Pacanins
Surfing Corporate's intern is Stephany Gil de Sucher
Original Theme Song is by Chaliwa Music
The rest of our music is by BlueDot Sessions.

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