“Decoration” of the team: why a woman has less chance of career growth

“Men think rationally, women think emotionally”

Gender equality means the same rights for women and men – in particular, when choosing a profession, position. Equal opportunities for career advancement. However, in practice, when selecting personnel for key positions, gender matters. 

One of the reasons is the opinion that women make decisions based on emotions. But men are supposedly always rational. Because of this, a woman is less likely to get a leadership position.

Rosstat conducted a survey: how many employees are willing to work under the command of a woman? Only 15% of the total number of respondents agreed. The male leader received almost two and a half times more votes – 41%.

Against the background of these statistics, an even more interesting fact stands out: if a woman is the head of the team, then only 8% of workers will be happy with the prospect of such cooperation. But 54% of Russian women agree to obey male bosses. 

This is what comes out, women themselves do not want to hand over the steering wheel to their colleague? It turns out that they psychologically trust men more. Well, if a woman in a company has grown to the position of a leader, then many orders, orders, actions will be considered through the prism of her emotional state in a specific period of time.

“You still go on maternity leave”

Every woman was asked at least once during an interview: “Are you planning a child in the near future?” Some employers are not shy and say directly that they do not need an employee who will go on maternity leave. Psychological pressure in this matter is a serious trump card of the employer.

Since she is a woman, she automatically dreams of having a child. Always and under any circumstances

So, she can not be trusted with a responsible position. 

Most do not even have a chance to advance to another level, because in the eyes of the employer, this is a future mother, not a specialist. When an employer starts choosing who to promote to head of department, a woman of “childbearing age” will have a priori less chance if she has a male colleague. 

“He’s a man, so he’s smarter”

This is not only the opinion of men themselves, but also the majority of women. 

According to statistics, men make decisions easier and faster when responding to vacancies – 80% of compliance with the requirements, and the resume has been sent. But women act more cautiously, they worry more: “What if I don’t fit this point? Here – I will show low competencies? We tend to weigh and consider from all sides the list of pros and cons. Only if you are 120% sure, are you ready to take a risk.

The setting “a man is smarter” was recorded in the minds of our mothers and grandmothers. What woman did not hear in her childhood that she should be a good housewife first of all? A man is more important, he decides, earns, builds a career. And the destiny of a woman is life and family. Work, and, especially, a career are secondary things.

The very expression “get married” or “be married” tells us in advance: your place is after the man, behind him. 

When choosing professions, women are less trusted

Experts from the World Economic Forum 2020 have published ranking data on the list of professions prohibited for women. Russia ranked 81st out of 156, while losing ground by 36 points compared to 2010 figures.

Since January 2021, by order of the Ministry of Labor, the situation in the country has changed significantly – we have more opportunities to prove ourselves. But this process is still very complicated.

When making a decision to close a vacancy, the employer is more likely to give preference to a man than a woman

All these factors prevent us from moving up the career ladder. You have to constantly prove your expertise and adequacy to the team, work on your convictions.

Is it different for a man? Certainly. It is quite enough for him to simply do the job a little better than required. But if we are ready to fight, and not to take stamina and determination, then let luck be on our side!