Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg attacks gender stereotypes at work

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, has launched a fierce attack on the gender stereotypes that hold back women at work at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Sandberg, who is publishing a book called Lean In on women in the workplace in March, singled out T-shirts sold in the US, with the boys' version emblazoned with the words "Smart Like Daddy", while the girls' version says "Pretty like Mommy".

"I would love to say that was 1951, but it was last year," she said. "As a woman becomes more successful, she is less liked, and as a man becomes more successful, he is more liked, and that starts with those T-shirts."

She blasted managers who unconsciously reflect stereotypes when they judge women's performance, saying: "She's great at her job but she's just not as well liked by her peers," or: "She's a bit aggressive."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jan/25/facebook-sheryl-sandberg-gender-stereotypes

[enlightenment]

1. She also said it should be acceptable - nay, encouraged, for

employers to ask potential female employees what their future family plans might be. She couches it in "we need to have more open dialogue", but she doesn't do a very good job of explaining why it's relevant.

[Tumbulu]

2. well it could be relevant for providing adequate childcare

and back up support for maternity leave, etc.

I think it would be better to be open if it was not an excuse to exclude (which unfortunately it usually is in the US at least).

I was denied acceptance into a grad program for my PhD (in the early 80's) because I would not agree to take a maximum 6 week maternity leave in my entire working career if I should ever have a child......very punitive really. Who would agree to that? Some women did, but that is not enough time.