Nancy Clark
OK women, we have a problem. We haven’t realized the magnitude of this problem yet. But as soon as each of you do, you’ll be eager to start making a small change in your behavior. I emphasize small change—you’ll find this quite doable.
OK—the problem. In business, men get more things than women—including money. Is it because male and female bosses favor men? Is it because they think men deserve more? No on both counts—it’s because men ask for more stuff—including money.
At WomensMedia we’ve heard women in their 20’s and 30’s say, “Oh, that’s a problem that older women have. That’s not a problem for us.” Wrong. In fact, Internet surveys show it’s slightly worse for younger women. So, no matter what your age group, you need to realize this problem affects you. The reason I’m blogging is because I don’t want you to be naïve and end up disappointed with the workplace. This can be avoided.
OK, next. Here’s one piece of evidence, among many that point to the same result. Linda Babcock, while a professor of economics at Carnegie Mellon University, wondered why male graduate students in her department were teaching courses of their own while female graduate students were acting as teaching assistants to the regular faculty. To her surprise, she discovered that the men went to the department head with a class proposal in hand and a budget request—the women didn’t. It was not a case of discrimination. It was a case of women being naïve as to how the game can be played.
To take her investigation one step further, Linda researched the starting salaries these men and women received after they completed graduate school. The starting salaries of the men were about $4,000 higher. When she asked who negotiated a salary, rather than accepting the initial offer, she had the answer to the big WHY. Eight—EIGHT— times as many men as women asked for more money. Now I know we can safely assume these were smart women who know their numbers—they completed graduate school, in economics no less.
That shows smart, well-educated women can be as naïve as the rest of us. Fortunately, the solution is quite doable. Up your rate of ASKING. Ask for more money of course, but also ask for things that will make your job easier, things that will boost your resume, things that will make your life more enjoyable—why not, while you’re at it? Start your list in these categories. And start asking.
Tip: Take the first step in changing your behavior by asking for something small that you want. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be paid attendance at a conference, a change in your office environment, a change in your job description, or something else that will make a difference to you. Be prepared to ask 3 times to establish the thought, “This is a woman who doesn’t give up.” This is necessary to overcome the stereotype that women back down more easily than men. Don’t admit it, but it’s true too often!
Make a Difference: After you’ve successfully received something you’ve asked for, pass the good idea along. Select a woman who deserves more than she’s receiving—because she’s not asking—and pass the idea along to her. Tell her that when she’s successful, she will feel as good as you feel passing this along.
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