Gendered Organizational Communication

            In chapter 10, Gendered Organizational Communication, of Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture by Julia Wood, Wood discusses the cultural understandings of gender and communication. Wood starts of the chapter by arguing that there are social expectations that come with each gender and these social expectations influence how we behave, act, and treat others. In our society there are many stereotypes that we assume for men and women. Wood argues that women are categorized into four different roles, which reflect gendered stereotypes. These four roles are: sex object, mother, child and iron maiden. The first, sex object, relates women’s work to sex or their sexuality. In our society, there is a major focus on women’s bodies. Women are constantly being judged for their appearance and body image. Our culture tends to judge women’s work off of appearance. The second, mother, refers to a women’s caring nature. Society often believes that women should always take care of and support others. This stereotyped role also refers to a mother’s want to have children. Women in the work force are normally taken less seriously if they have children or plan to have children. The third stereotyped role, child, reflects a view of women as less knowledgeable and capable of certain jobs and that they should not be taken seriously in certain fields of work. Lastly, the iron maiden reflects a view of women that are independent and tough; these women are normally seen as unfeminine.

Wood goes on to discuss the three gendered stereotypes of men. These three stereotyped roles are: sturdy oak, fighter, and breadwinner. Wood says, “The sturdy oak is a self-sufficient pillar of strength who is never weak or reliant on others” (Wood 213). This role reflects the gendered stereotype that men are always emotionally strong and never need to be supported by others. The second role, fighter reflects how men are expected to act like “brave warriors” in society. This displays how men are expected to be aggressive and competitive at all times. The last stereotyped role, breadwinner, reflects how our society expects men to bring home more money than their wives and be the main supporter of their families.

An interesting part of the chapter is when Wood discusses and defines the glass ceiling and glass walls. Wood defines the glass ceiling, “as an invisible barrier that limits the advancements of women and minorities” (222). Wood argues that there is a subtle discrimination against women in the work place that prevents women and minorities from receiving a promotion or raise. Women are stereotyped to have children and start families. This leads men and others to believe that women cannot advance in their careers. Wood then defines the glass wall as, “a metaphor for sex segregation on the job, in which women are placed in ‘pink collar’ positions that require skills traditionally associated with women” (222). Both the glass ceiling and wall are subtly preventing women from acquiring certain jobs because of the stereotypes of women within our society. This discrimination makes it harder for women to get hired, get paid fairly, and receive promotions in the work force. Wood talks about efforts that have been made to change this discrimination against women and minorities. The two main examples in the chapter “are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964), which prohibits discrimination in employment, and Title IX (1972), which forbids discrimination in educational programs that receive federal aid” (223-224). Although strives have been made in order to promote equal opportunities in the work place for men and women, women are still having difficulties being taken seriously in certain places of work.

I thought this chapter raised some very interesting arguments about gendered stereotypes of men and women and about equal opportunities in the work force. There are so many social expectations that come with each gender which affect how one acts in society. Personally I see the gendered stereotypes that Wood discussed in both of my parents. My mom is a real estate agent and a mother to three children. Before my mom had kids, she worked on Wall Street and I know that she had a hard time being taken seriously in that type of work place. On the other hand my dad has worked on Wall Street since he left college has had no trouble in the work place. I am not sure if my mom ever received a promotion on Wall Street but I know that my dad has received multiple promotions in different areas of work. I think this is interesting comparing my parents’ careers. I consider both my parents very successful, hard working people, but I do believe that my mom has had to work a little bit harder than my dad to be given respect and to be taken seriously.

I think it would be interesting to ask the class whether they see these gendered stereotypes in their parents as well. I know that in today’s society more women are starting to become the main breadwinner of families instead of men. Do my peers know any families in which the wife is the main breadwinner and the husband is the main care giver?