Lauren Morris, Contributor

SUMMARY

Ellen Catz, CEO, cannot tell if the reports of Manterrupting, Manstanding, and Talk Blocking in this organization are valid. I, a man, was hired because she, a woman, required a thorough investigation.

METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS

Carol loves numbers and has been tracking this problem on her own and found that male executives who speak more often than their peers are deemed more competent (by 10%), while female executives who speak up are considered less (14% less) competent. She tried to keep going but at that point I cut her off to dispute her math.

Janene loves research and has found there is some sort of labyrinth or “man”rinth for women in the workplace and gender stereotypes are holding women back. Women are seen as communal and employees think their leaders should take charge. I interrupted Janene to tell her she was taking too long to make her point.

Deborah let me know that female employees who want to be leaders are facing a double standard. A female candidate for a powerful role has to display that she can take charge to reassure people she can get the job done which is hardly ever an issue for men. There is also the “double bind”: when women in leadership roles do act tough, there is a backlash against them for being too tough. I tried to interject and give my opinion but Deborah didn’t stop talking so I stopped paying attention.

Tonya, yet another female employee in this company, interviewed several other women in the organization and it appears these employees have come up with a series of terms they use to describe when men who are in power and a place of privilege are behaving in certain ways. Terms such as Manstanding, Manterrupting, Bro-propriated, and Bro-opted were described. I interrupted her with an incredulous laugh at all of this – besides, her voice is shrill.

SOLUTIONS

Ms. Catz, I’d like to state these gender issues in the workplace cannot exist given the sheer number of women employed in this organization.

You, a woman, keep insisting there is a problem and I, a man, keep interrupting to let you know that you are wrong. Case closed!

Lauren Morris is a writer, improviser, and the founder/Director of AdLib Theatre Company and the Central Florida Improv Festival. As a writer, Lauren has been featured in publications such as Razed, Points in Case, Slackjaw, Robot Butt, Weekly Humorist, and Belladonna. To learn more, visit www.laurenhasthree.com