Biology Reference
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a publisher under the title “The Universal Language of Womanhood.” We are
hopeful that we will identify a publisher and sponsor for what we believe is a
powerful concept to show women worldwide that we share so much in common
and together we can make a difference.
Keep Quiet - Don't Talk About Other Women!
We have discussed this issue in the opening of the chapter, but it bears repeating.
When it comes to business information, share as much as possible, but we need
to keep our mouths shout when it comes to talking to men about other women,
especially within our organization. As the Catalyst studies have demonstrated,
women are not only working to achieve the same goals as men, but are addition-
ally fighting against negative stereotypes. Perhaps you think with female CEOs
at giants such as Xerox (Ursula Burns) and IBM (Virginia “Ginni” Rommety)
that this rally is no longer a factor in corporate America. You are absolutely
wrong if this is what you believe. Even in 2012, when a woman in business
speaks about another woman, she is giving validity and power to any negatives
that have been spoken about that woman. As a result, the detrimental stereo-
types are perpetuated and reinforced.
Unite with All Women at All Times
Some of the most powerful, knowledgeable, and respected women in an organi-
zation are the assistants, secretaries, and associates. Everything you do affects
other women; playing on the women's team doesn't mean playing just with the
women at your level or levels that you aspire to reach. Almost every woman will
experience some of the workplace issues we've discussed, from the cleaning
staff to the senior executive offices.
Gloria Steinman's story of how female faculty were not being promoted at a
university illustrates the power of team tips. The female faculty members at this
university were frustrated at the lack of promotion for women to the rank of full
professor. The female faculty came together to express their concern in commit-
tee meetings, a strike, and a task force, all to no avail. Nothing changed. Until,
that is, one day a female professor described this situation to her secretary, who
sympathized deeply with her. But she didn't stop at sympathy. The secretaries
went on strike to support the female professors. Shortly after this, the male
power structure gave in and a commitment was made for tenured and promotion
opportunities for female faculty [5] . Understanding the impact we can have on
others and how we can prevent injustices should be a powerful motivator for
each of us. I recall in the early days when I was seeking tenure, I would often be
in my office until the late hours of the night working on publications, proposals,
and class preparation. I welcomed the gentle knock on my door from a pleas-
ant and always cheerful Jamaican cleaning lady. Over the months and years,
we began to chat and she always asked how I was doing on my “work.” It was
almost as if she had a sense of pride that a woman, and a woman who was also
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