Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 alpha 4/15/85; site amdcad.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!amd!amdcad!linda
From: linda@amdcad.UUCP (Linda Seltzer)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Women vs. women in the workplace
Message-ID: <1598@amdcad.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Jun-85 19:50:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: amdcad.1598
Posted: Tue Jun 11 19:50:32 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Jun-85 10:25:49 EDT
Organization: AMDCAD, Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 53
Keywords: workplace

I've seen a great deal about changing men's attitudes, but what about
changing women's attitudes.  Some of the worst experiences a woman
can have on the job or at a university may be because of other
(non-feminist) women.  Examples:

(1)  Many women wear high heels and bleach their hair blond not
because it's prettier or more comfortable, but because it will
get them ahead professionally.  When some anti-feminist men in
management see these symbols they believe that these women
are "nicer" and less aptly to cause trouble, therefore these
women are often favored.  Also, some women will bleach their
hair blond to look more "white", in order to complete with
dark skinned and minority women.  There seem to be some
male managers who fall all over blondes. 

(2)  It is a common practice for non-feminist women in the workplace
to start trouble (untrue gossip or complaints about a technical
matter) against other women, in order to show anti-feminist managers
that they will not push for promotions of more women.  I saw a
female manager do this by avoiding hiring a woman who applied for
a job.  I have seen two cases, during my career, of women who
were rewarded highly for getting other women fired.  If you're
really technically competent it is easy to blow this type of
person out of the water and defend yourself, but often the
target may be a recently-promoted former secretary who doesn't have
much self confidence yet.

(3)  There are some women who, at meetings, will make faces or
snicker when another woman talks.  If you confront the woman
or complain about her, then you will be labelled as a trouble
maker.  Of course, you can ask her if she's not feeing well
and if she needs an asprin.

(4)  One time in one of my classes, another graduate student
(female) came in every week and sat next to the professor
(we all sat at a table).  She would wear provocative clothing,
such as a sweatshirt and tights (with no shorts or skirt),
very high heels, and lots of make-up.  She never did any of
the assignments.  (and she criticized one of mine very strongly
in class - luckily, the professor defended my work).  One
day, in the middle of a discussion, she burst out with "I
don't see why we have to do all of this - it's all so DIFFICULT!".
When it came time for grades - she got the same grade as mine.
My complaint about it only aliented the professor, who essentially
felt that it was none of my business.  (Music composition classes
are not graded by numerical scores like math classes).

Does anyone have suggestions on how to influence women's
attitudes towards other women, and on how to get the men
to care about going on, without appearing to be
a "complainer"?

					Linda Seltzer