First Friday Discussion - The Great Feminization
Details
This month, we will be discussing the controversial article The Great Feminization, (and related ideas). So, PLEASE READ the article. https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-great-feminization/
Credit to Katherine for finding the article!
As usual, we will socialize for about an hour before the discussion begins at 8:30. I encourage everyone to bring something tasty to share.
Questions/Ideas to Consider
- Some studies indicate female job satisfaction is lower under female supervision. If you are a woman, would you prefer a female boss?
- Andrews suggests men wage conflict openly while women may engage in covert competition or ostracism. Is one form inherently more moral, more effective, or more corrosive to the integrity of an institution than the other?
- If an institution (like a university or a newsroom) prioritizes cohesion over open conflict and "prickly individualism," can it still effectively pursue the "unfettered pursuit of truth," or is an adversarial process fundamentally necessary for the rigorous testing of ideas?
- How could one design an objective, non-gendered metric to empirically test Andrews' hypothesis that "feminized" institutions are in decline? What observable outputs (e.g., innovation rates, financial solvency, public trust scores) would confirm or deny the alleged institutional decay?
- Assuming "masculine" values (e.g., competition, objectivity) and "feminine" values (e.g., empathy, cohesion) are both necessary, what structural or policy mechanisms could be implemented to ensure a healthy balance of these competing virtues within a diverse institution?
Links for more in-depth perspectives
https://www.hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-secret-to-great-teams/