Differences between Men and Women in the Workplace - Term Paper Example

Men and women have identical behavior, mentality, capabilities, strengths, weaknesses, interests, habits and various other influencing aspects. Even challenges faced by each gender are identical (Tucker, 2007). This paper aims to discuss the differences between men and women at workplace. Cultures, traditions and customs vary in different locations of the world. Such differences and values do influence the professional performance, consistency and growth of each gender. Culture and tradition also influence the availability of opportunities that is again a big question in today’s world. Numerous debates and arguments have been coming up to illustrate if men are more productive at workplace than women or vice versa. It is not just in the case of work progress, but also in terms of behavior, ownership and politics, etc. Gender may cause discrimination at workplace. Nature of Men Men happen to be strong, quick learner, technical, rough and tough and quicker than females. It has been noticed that men are quicker than females not only physically, but also mentally. They learn things easily and their IQ is better than females in majority cases. However, men are less reliable than females, but this is again a controversial statement as this might not be the case in many cases. Nature of Female Female workers happen to be sincere and hardworking as compare to male workers. Females are not as smart workers as males are, but they are hard-working. They fill the performance gap by their efforts. Female professionals are dealt with respect and are listened more than male professionals. This is not implemented by any organization, but is natural that people pay more attention to females as compare to males. Environmental facts of men and women at workplace Differences in cultures also influence performance of men or women at workplace. Different countries follow different cultures. Each culture is influenced by the local languages, religions, beliefs, traditions and a few other aspects. Such cultures do not really influence work availability of men significantly, but these do influence female professional. This is not only theoretically illustrated by numerous researchers, but is also practically observed. In Europe, America and England, female workers are as professional as the male workers, but in numerous Asian and a few Arab countries, female professionals are not persistent and strong in decision making. Even they compromise their career for family values. It has been observed that in countries like Japan, female workers participate in economy, but they are not really consistent and persistent. They mostly leave jobs after getting married. It seems that they either do jobs to earn only or they sacrifice their profession / career for the sake of house management or children. In a relationship, when it comes to sacrifice, female spouses are more likely to give up, no matter female spouses earn more than male spouses, but it is always females who sacrifice. However, in this sacrifice, men also suffer as doing job to run household expenses is again not a piece of cake. Male workers face a lot of challenges at workplace so as the females, but the challenges faced by females are mostly different in nature. It may be a result of different job nature or due to change in nature. Female workers follow different approaches in task accomplishment and male workers follow different approaches. These are all dependent on their preferences, thoughts, mental level and intellectual capabilities. In case of self-employed bodies, ladies are likely to receive more business deals and opportunities to flourish their businesses as compare to male businessmen. This could be the reason behind profitability of businesswomen, but when it comes to sensitive and technical contracts, people rely on male professionals. Several studies indicate that it is not easy to compare if men professionals / business owners are better than female professionals / business owners or vice versa. Both genders are different with different way of thinking. Both deal with problems they faced in different way with different approaches (Kirdahy, 2008). Comparison Men and women are different in a number of ways. However, all organizations are working with both of them and it seems both genders are identical and possess exclusive qualities. Below are some of the major differences between the two at workplace. As discussed above, men are stronger than women physically and emotionally. This is the reason; ladies give up at workplace quite often. Females are found crying easily as compare to men. Women express more smartly and openly than males. At workplaces, ladies are found giving speeches. Males are more practical at workplace as compare to ladies who are talkative. Change in likes and dislikes influences the activities of each gender since childhood. Naturally, they both are different so have different preferences and habits. And, these changes are natural and are since childhood. For example, girls in childhood, like to cook, play with doll, like doing make up and like cleanliness, etc. On the other hand, boys in childhood play with cars, guns, play football, cricket and snooker, etc. General changes in preferences influence each gender mentally for different professions. Computing and Mathematical skills of men are quite enhanced and quicker than females. Females are good in learning things while men are more into performing technical tasks. Men are mostly found in Engineering field, mathematics / computing fields, labor work and several other hard jobs. Men happen to be mentally and physically stronger than women in term of technicalities and physic. It has been discussed at couple of places that female managers happen to be lenient than male managers. Juliette states in her article Differences between Men and Women at Work that male managers do not give it a second thought when they come on firing their subordinates while female managers do not behave similarly. They happen to be caring and do tend to discuss issues with subordinates before deciding to fire them (Fairle, 2009). However, in several other matters, female managers are found cunning and difficult to deal with. It has been observed that male bosses scold their subordinates and tend to take out more work from them, but then also subordinates like to work with them as their behavior indicate the exact extent of their feelings while female bosses do behave negative too, but their extent remains a question mark for subordinates and they never know if they are in good list or bad list of their female bosses. This is more difficult and painful for subordinates as they never know the real status of their quarterly evaluation, etc. Discrimination in the workplace From hiring to firing, from income to pension and from demotion to promotion, discrimination is found at a number of places between men and women at workplace. However, to control such discrimination, a proper law is circulated. Pregnant woman is also discriminated at the time of hiring. Discrimination may either be direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment at work or it could be victimization. Direct discrimination occurs when an employee is directly treated unfairly by the mean of low salary or is treated differently due to gender. Promoting female worker, but not the male worker for any personal reason is the best example for direct discrimination. Indirect discrimination occurs when a gender is excluded from any scheme or promotion for any known or unknown reason. In this type of discrimination, individual cannot really argue or complain as there are a lot of others who suffer. But, this is also one of the worst policies to ignore someone qualifying just because of gender. Harassment at work refers to the sexual or verbal abuse / persecution or substandard cure to any gender. Victimization is about the unethical or biased conduct on the basis of one’s gender. There are several organizations that deliberately prefer women over men or vice versa. However, to avoid such discrimination, civil rights laws are designed that ensure equal rights of men and women at workplace (Manohar, n.d). Threats to genders at workplace In numerous cases, young ladies face sexual harassments by their bosses or colleagues, etc. On the other hand, men face threat of less growth and promotion chances as in most of the cases; females are given favors more than men. Promotions and growths are easier for females as compare to male workers. Female candidates are given preferences over male candidates and also they are leniently dealt and given leverage in various ways while male workers are observed as technical, persistent, consistent and regular as compare to female workers, but in many cases, ladies are given preferences over men. This is observed everywhere worldwide. Numerous surveys declare that men are productive in technical fields due to their intellectual capabilities, nature and interest. But, men wait a lot for promotions and appreciation while female get it with less effort. Conclusion According to a research conducted by Iraj Mahdavi, survey results indicate quite similar facts concerning the self-confidence level of each gender, men and women. Her survey results indicate that the level of self-belief in men is quite lower than females. It might be a result of actual favors to female workers that could not be a new or strange thing to know. Mostly, male bosses give personal favors to female subordinates in terms of promotions and increments, etc. The results of her survey highlighted that 82% female professionals consider themselves as successful in their lives overall. While, comparatively less population of male participants said that they consider themselves successful in general. When both the male and female participants were asked if they consider themselves as successful in their careers, 78% female professionals called themselves successful in their careers while 72% male professionals declared themselves as successful in their careers (Mahdavi, 2002, p.4). However, feedback of each participant is not only due to gender, but there are several other consequences, factors, backgrounds and values associated with each one of them. Normally, it has been noticed that men professionals do not really count themselves as successful as they set high targets and work really hard to achieve their goals. This is the reason in most of the cases that they do not really sit back or stay relaxed at some certain position. They tend to achieve high positions so they do not really call themselves successful. The second reason could be their field or profession. Male students mostly tend to seek degrees of professions they like to choose for themselves. But, it is not really possible for all of them to get in to the professions of their interest. They might get job in some other field as the economical and environmental possibilities and opportunities vary everywhere in every country. So, in most of the cases, male citizens do not prefer to sit unemployed. They search jobs in all possible fields within their countries. So, this may take them away from the fields they are interested in. And, once a man obtains relevant experience in some other field, he can’t really get job of his choice. In case he luckily gets job in the field he is interested in, due to non relevant experience he is treated as fresh so is given less salary. In the growing market, competition has become toughest than any other period. To compete with market, organizations of almost all categories set sales and marketing departments. When there is no other job in market, people are left with no choice than sales. The field of sales is something that people avoid as profession, but in worst cases, they are left with no other option. This is not the case with females. Females mostly, are found satisfied with reasonable salaries and reputable positions. Their common motive is to stay in market. Profession matters, but not too much for ladies as far as their working environment and brand is good with good income and reputable job description. However, females also avoid sales. It has been found that there is no comparison between the capabilities of men and women. Both the genders have several qualities and drawbacks that are natural and obvious. An organization flourishes not only on a few contributions; it needs wide range of qualities, capabilities and performances to survive in today’s competitive environment. However, there are a few fields in which men perform better than females and vice versa. It all depends on exclusive qualities of each gender in different fields. It has been surveyed and found out that men are considered the best choice for physical sort of hard jobs. Such jobs include labor work and outdoor work. For very sensitive and technical sort of fields like Engineering, etc, men are found more interested than females. Surveying different Engineering colleges prove the same. On the other side, females have got artistic touch and are excellent in memorizing and learning text material. Females take interest in the fields of fashion designing, painting, crafting, beautician fields and secretarial sort of jobs. The differences in nature cause the differences in professions. However, these are not hard and fast rules for both the genders. It is just about the majority. There are thousands of boys doing secretarial, medical and fashion designing jobs. Exceptional cases are found everywhere. Likes and dislikes may vary in professions. However, the differences are there in terms of strengths, capabilities, mentality and abilities. That mix with opportunities and environment, on the basis of which a person chooses specific field or profession. As far as the Human Resource perspective is concerned, the core task of HR should be to allocate job to any individual after analyzing his / her interest and abilities. A person should be given task that he / she can enjoy. In that sense, productivity speaks louder than others. Smart Human Resource Departments evaluate candidates before assigning them various tasks. This is very important tool to be productive. If one tends to take out technician work from a painter, he might get nothing but the wastage of money, time and resources. However, it is not that easy to just allocate female oriented jobs to females, one may find a male candidate for some female oriented job who is far better, qualified and deserving than any other female. In such cases, Human Resources should avoid gender factor as should also consider qualification, experience interest and skills of each candidate regardless generic aspects. At workplaces, in all the fields, females and males work shoulder to shoulder and it is really not easy to differentiate productivity, behavior and sense of responsibility of each gender. Sometimes, it has been found that in most of the cases, ladies happen to be shy but responsible than men. On the other hand, men are found smart workers though they are not that much responsible. After all, productivity of both is found equal or identical depending upon the nature of job and interest. It is not just gender that affects one’s productivity, behavior or sense of responsibility; there are several other factors in collaboration with nature of one’s job that after all helps in identifying the real result. No matter, females are assumed physically weaker than men but there are several other qualities that may not be found in male employees. It all depends and is really not easy to evaluate employees just on the basis of gender. References Fairle, J., 2009. Differences Between Men and Women at Work. [Online] Available at: http://hrpeople.monster.com/news/articles/2408-differences-between-men-and-women-at-work [Accessed 8 August 2010]. Kirdahy, M., 2008. Women Vs. Men: Whos Better At Business? [Online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/28/gender-strategy-behavior-lead-manage-cx_mk_0528sexes.html [Accessed 8 August 2010]. Mahdavi, I., 2002. Comparing Men’s and Women’s Definition of Success. Journal of Behavioral Studies in Business. Manohar, U., n.d. Gender Discrimination at Workplace. [Online] Available at: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gender-discrimination-at-workplace.html [Accessed 7 August 2010]. Tucker, J., 2007. Differences between men and women. [Online] Available at: http://businessmanagement.suite101.com/article.cfm/gender_and_work [Accessed 6 August 2010]. Read More