Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Eureka Moment
I work on a staff of 8 men and 8 women. For the most part we all work really well together. I just don't think we all do an equal amount of work. With the exception of a few, it's always the males doing the manual labor like moving furniture or lifting heavy boxes and the females are usually doing office work at the computer or at the desk. It kind of bothers me that we don't switch roles. I feel that it is expected for the men to do the manual labor and for the women to sit at the desk. I try my best to do both, I just wish everyone else on the staff would. I think that if we switched roles or we did half and half we would all learn something. We learn new things everyday, and by working together and doing new things, we are gaurenteed to learn new things.
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You make a interesting point because why do we see all the time the person who is the receptionist at a office always a girl? It is kind of interesting and I think the fact of the matter is women tend to not want to do that work. I can tell you that the girls I worked with at my job where we would have to lift court bags would always ask me to get them for them. They really never wanted to do it. While on the other hand my part time job at a market there are plenty of girls I work with who are picking up heavy things and unloading a box truck everyday. I don't want to sound bias in anyway, but I working in a office with people from USA. I work in a market with people from Poland and Russia. The women from Poland and Russia seem to be hard workers who will do anything you ask them to do. While the women I worked with just rather sit at the desk and work on the computer all day. I just think it's the roles society plays that get them to be this way. I think it's great for you to want to do things like this. And your right many times guys think they need to do the manuel things cause it be to much for the girls.
ReplyDeleteBeing that I was raised with all boys, I find that alot of the time, I like to try and be tougher than I actually am. I used to work in a gym at the cafe, and when we got shipments in I would try and show off and take care of it all by myself. Truth is, while most of the stuff was liftable, there were some things that no matter how hard I tried, I was just unable to lift and would have to ask one of the personal trainers for help. Typically guys are stronger than girls, that is just the way we are built, however there ARE exceptions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I think that as long as you are capable and willing to do the work, then go for it! Ask one of the guys to switch for the day and see what happens!
You know what, I would definitely agree with you on this one because at my temp job, I'm the only man in the office and I'm always the one they call on when there are deliveries that have to be brought in or if there are heavy boxes that need to be moved. They crack jokes about it to; I think it's funny also. At the same time though, I feel they could definitely do this type of work. There's at least 15 woman in my office so they could at least chip in; maybe if it takes only two or three of them to help each other move certain things it would help me alot. It's not really a big deal to me, but I just thought it was convenient you brought this issue up
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteIT is funny you say this because if I stopand think about my job whenever it comes to lifting something or doing anything to maual it is always assumed one of the guys will do it for me. Like before I even try someone is behind me like no..noo I got it! Like I am in capaable of doing anything that involves "labor"...in case people forgot speaking of labor we do give borth to children and they say a man could never go through it. It is too bad that people don;t pay more attention because maybe it would change. I feel like I never really notices because Ijust got so use to it. AND is a guy to strong and manly to do desk work LOL. You should tell the guys at your place to switch for a day and see how it goes.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIn my office things are a little different, regardless of what needs to be done the expectation is that everyone who is available will pitch in and get it done. However in other offices this is not the case. It is assumed that the administrative teams which are predominately women will take care of it. What is also amazing is that people will hold a meeting in a room and not clean up their mess leaving it for the administrative team to clean up. I think sometimes people think that if you’re in a support role that’s what you do is support; you’re not expected to have a brain or an opinion. It is true that most administrative professionals are women; in my experience many of them have college degrees and use these jobs to enter the workforce. Being a manager of administrative services I am an advocate of administrative services; every chance I get I sing their praises and educate people about their contributions which allows all of us to achieve our organizational goals.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIn most organizations, there exists some type of cross-training among the employees. I absolutely love you idea of not only switching job roles, but including a switch of our gendered roles at work. I have taken a few courses during my undergraduate studies that I selected specifically thinking they would help me at work, for example "Conflict and Conflict Resolution". However, this course ended actually teaching me the most, personally and professionally. I start my MBA at Rider in Septemeber and I just checked the courses I will be taking, and not a gender studies course anywhere - and there needs to be! I am going to see if I can do something about that.