Working with the other half

[42]

So another thread reminded me of this.
About a month ago, I was with a few of my older siblings, when my brother-in-law went on a rant how he hated working mostly with women. My dad chimed in agreeing.

So then one of my older brothers, a supposed organizational behavior specialist, gave a spiel about how the problem with working with women, generally, is that they fail to compartmentalize things as a man would. Thus they bring all of their personal, social, and family issues with them to work. Some would call this "multi-tasking," but to men it's just annoying when we are trying to focus and meet dead-lines.

So then my older sister, mom, and sister-in-law vehemently retorted. Saying that working with usually sucks because they are competitive, selfish, and tend to power-trip a lot.

Having worked in both kind of environments where one gender is more prominent than the other, I would agree with the generalities. Hence, I've concluded that it is best to just work alone.

Thoughts? Opinions? Violent Dissagreements?

[Entsuropi]

I find that unemployment - working with nobody at all, even myself - works pretty good for me.

Seriously though, i've found that the office battle-axes tend to bitch a lot about outside things, like family and crap, in loud voices, which creates rage in the young Entropy. And that the men tend to act something like robots, with no actual mention of anything that isn't covered by the company handbook.

[Nicadymus]

The generalizations seem to be true in all of the places that I have worked in except when I worked with female attorneys in a law firm.

Other than that, I agree with the generalizations.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

I've always gotten along with the women I've worked with. We talk about family and stuff.

On the other hand, I don't make close friends with most of the men I work with, having very few interests in common with them.

[Nicadymus]

I am not saying that I don't work well with women, because I do.  However, I do feel that the generalizations are true.

[Mistress of Darkness]

I get more work done working by myself. But when it comes to improving a process or project, I like working in a group.

My last place of employment was mostly men, and I talked to a lot of them about their families, etc. Maybe that's just because they had already realized that was what you talk to a female coworker about.

[stacer]

I usually work with women, just given my field. It actually gets annoying--surrounded by women everywhere, without men to balance it out. At work, all women and one man (when I worked), at school all women (no men in the program--it's a women's college to start with, and though the grad programs are coed, children's lit attracts few men), and then church is practically all women, too. I like a nice mix. Different perspectives, different ways of thinking. And I'm tired of girls' nights out. Every night is a girls' night out.

[MsFish]

I want to argue with the idea that girls don't compartmentalize, but I can't, given that I'm particularly bad at that myself.  Come to think of it, so are most of the women I've worked with.

I like working with people, because I get more done, surprisingly enough.  When I'm with someone else I'll pick up the pace, because I'm less likely to drift off into daydreaming, or be so totally bored that I don't want to get anything done.    

Then again, if I'm doing something I care about, I'd rather do it alone.  I tend not to trust other people to get it right.

[Mad Dr Jeffe]

I dont generally find those generalizations to be true. Most of the time I work better with women than men and often find if I have a problematic relationship with a co-worker, it has more to do with their work ethic than anything else. Right now I have both Female and Male bosses, neither is really that capable or able to multitask. I have had great female bosses in the past who not only compartmentalize but manage to be assertive and compasonate at the same time. Dr. Costly who was one of the Vets at Kings park was a thousand times more capable than Dr. Woodward the owner, likewise Lt. Allie Nemec was one of the best officers I have ever served under while he replacement Mike Sinclair couldnt find his rear with both his hands. I have also had great male Bosses, CDR Roberts in my office was very, very good at leadership and his job, and BM1 Lindsey was a fantastic motivator and leader.

Not that I get along with all women, or all men, but I generally find capable people are capable no matter what their sex is. But then again I like people and see my current job in the CG as an anathama to a healthy social life. Thats why I took a second job that includes face time with real live people.

[Archon]

Keep in mind that I go to high school when you read this post.

I agree that girls are often distracted by other things in their lives, and often don't deal very well with staying on task regardless of such things. Girls are also more likely to talk about other people, and what is happening to them in their lives, which I find annoying, since I don't consider it to be their business.

The average guy isn't any better. He indulges in "locker room" type conversation, which is a distraction, and just something I dislike in general. If you are leading a team, they are also less cooperative, because they think that they know better than you do.

I am kind of stereotyping guys and girls, but from the people I have worked with, it is often true.

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

The real question is, "Is the other half empty or is the other half full?"

[Entsuropi]

The real question is, which half can I make caustic remarks to?

[GorgonlaVacaTremendo]

Probably the one that is half full, unless you are schizophrenic...