March 17, 2014

I am sure that many of you have seen this. It’s amusing. And then we say to ourselves, “Of course, we don’t do this now.”

But maybe we do? There isn’t gender equity yet – not on any country in the world – except Iceland, which actually has a law and studies progress. I wonder if there was the same “guide” for “hiring men?” Would you like to make a bet?

So check out these tips – for men supervising women in the workforce during WW II.

1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they’re less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work award and to deal with the public efficiently. (Hmmmm… Flirtatious? Wouldn’t work if they didn’t have to?)

2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are included to be cantankerous and fussy. (What can I say? Really?)

3. General experience indicates that “husky” girls – those who are just a little on the heavy side – are more even temperated and efficient than their underweight sisters. (Wouldn’t you just love to see the scientifically-valid research that documents this statement?)

4. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick, and wash her hands several time a day. (I know that, for me personally, tidy hair is a constant stress. And I’m always worried about my lipstick, e.g., picking colors and keeping it fresh for that next gentleman, or husky woman, or that elderly cantankerous gal who might come near me.)

5. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a women – it breaks her spirit and cuts her efficiency. (Isn’t it marvelous that men are insensitive clods who don’t mind the harsh critique and ridicule offered by those all-too-qualified male bosses? Wow.)

I’ve just picked 5 of the 11. I cannot pick more. Because actually, this isn’t amusing. This was real. Some of this is still real. Yes, still real. But since it’s politically incorrect (and illegal), the behaviors may be more subtle.

What do you experience at work – whether you are a woman or a man?

 

 

About Simone Joyaux

A consultant specializing in fund development, strategic planning, and board development, Simone P. Joyaux works with all types and sizes of nonprofits, speaks at conferences worldwide, and teaches in the graduate program for philanthropy at Saint Mary’s University, MN. Her books, Keep Your Donors and Strategic Fund Development, are standards in the field.

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