Perceptions and Behaviors in Mixed Sex Work Teams

BY COMPARING AND CONTRASTING MALE AND FEMALE BEHAVIOR IN BOTH MAJORITY AND MINORITY STATUS SITUATIONS, A RECENT STUDY ATTEMPTED TO DEFINE THE CONFRONTATION OFTEN EXPERIENCED BY BOTH SEXES AS TRADITIONAL WORK ROLES ARE EXPANDED. WHEN PLACED IN MANAGEMENT TRAINING ROLES AS A MINORITY, FEMALES TEND TO SIMPLY CONFORM AND GO ALONG. THEY SHOULD INSTEAD BE PLACED IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY IN PREDOMINANTLY FEMALE GROUPS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH LEADERSHIP ABILITIES THAT CAN LATER BE APPLIED TO SITUATIONS IN WHICH THERE IS MALE NUMERICAL DOMINANCE. THE MALES STUDIED WERE IN SUBORDINATE POSITIONS IN FEMALE DOMINATED SITUATIONS. WHEN INTERVIEWED, THEY TENDED TO EXAGGERATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORK ROLE WHILE DOWNPLAYING THOSE OF THE WOMEN. PERHAPS SUCH WORKERS SHOULD BECOME CONFRONTED WITH SUCH DISCREPANCIES IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BECOME MORE SENSITIVE TO THE PLIGHT OF THE FEMALE MANAGER.