Comments on: Beyond ‘Honey’ & ‘Sweetie’: Things NEVER to Say to Women

By: Vicki Sue

Vicki Sue — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:01 +0000

I work for one of Diversity,Inc. top 50, I lead the diversity efforts for my department. I have had the PRIVLAGE of see the number of women in “management/executive” ranks decline – and there were plenty of women ready and qualified – supporting your article. HOWEVER, at this time there are 0 women “on the bench” and I am seeing a FEW women being expedited up when there are men FAR MORE qualified. We went through this once at my company, and most tanked – in an effort to bring our diversity numbers up. One discussion is to “bring women in from the outside” to “get the number”. REALLY? By “data”, I guess that would meet Diversity, Inc criteria. One thing I have enjoyed with Diversity, Inc, is your ability to “get behind” the “window dressing” with your analysis.
I have been with my company for over 20 years. I have stayed this long because we were a “different” company. I no longer see the “fair and level playing field. Though we have women in some areas of the executive ranks, there are only a couple in the manufacturing side of the business.
The overwhelming shocking piece for me is to even be exeriencing this today. I am very disappointed in my peers. These are men whose mothers, wives, sisters, daughters work/have worked.

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:02:50 +0000

You’re just flat-out wrong. Women have earned more than half of bachelor’s degrees in each year since 1982. It didn’t go from zero to 51 percent. Of all working-age people today, 50 percent of people who have bachelor’s degrees are women—yet, they’re only 4.2 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs. I’d estimate that 99.5 percent of promotions since World War II have been given to white men specifically because they were white men. There are only two reasons for that: Either white men are superior to everyone else, or it is discrimination. Because I feel people are created equal, there’s only one reason, in my opinion—gross discrimination that was detrimental to the organizations that made the discriminatory moves. It wasn’t that long ago that professional women had to put up with only two weeks’ maternity leave. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: Vicki Sue

Vicki Sue — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:38:08 +0000

Though in general I agree with this article, we need to look deeper into the issue surrounding “You only got this job because you are a woman”. And to some extent, Diversity Inc is our worse enemy. In a drive to improve the ranks of women (and other diversity factors), women (and others) are being pushed into those positions compared to men with far more experience and accomplishments. It is the “data” that those of us in lower positions can see and RARELY do you see a white man “pushed” into those ranks without those elements. The ranks may be increasing but come on DiversityInc – how about looking at the “method” to get there? It takes time to develop that talent to move up. I really question an organization who had little representation in the upper ranks to dramatically improve those results in just a few short years.

By: Doc Sanchez

Doc Sanchez — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:41:10 +0000

I just dropped 25 lbs. myself, dear Sister (thank you for noticing).
And by the way, you look spectacular today! Give yourself a raise!

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:10:33 +0000

Thanks, Doc; and please feel free — anytime — to tell me I’ve lost weight! :)

By: Doc Sanchez

Doc Sanchez — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:54:25 +0000

Thank you, GrannyBunny…I thought it was just me. I work at a VA hospital. The staff here are career Employees and we have all worked together for years, creating a familial environment where terms of endearment are common because of the close and communicative relationships we’ve developed. I frankly reject this uber-politically correct so-called advice. My colleagues at work call me everything from Big Brother to Papa (due to my age) and we constantly notice when a coworker drops some pounds or gets their hair done. It’s almost expected, again because we have cultivated a level of communication which supercedes the petty “rules of engagement” mandated in this writer’s opine. Those guidelines are for the new generation of working men and women, and I suppose should be until they develop the communication skills needed to create a positive and supportive work environment.

By: Rene Rodriguez

Rene Rodriguez — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:24:34 +0000

While it should never be said out loud in the workplace, I, as a woman, do not believe that women or anyone for that matter, can give equal time to their job and children. I’m sorry, but the feminists lies about this. And I think young women aren’t buying into this logic either. It is humanly not possible. How can you spend 12 hours at work and then give equal time to you’re child? It’s not possible. I know many will say its about the quality, not the quantity. Kids these know the difference. Believe me because I’ve been there!

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:21:18 +0000

I generally disagree with the concept behind the “what not to say to…” series, because more — not less — communication is needed between diverse individuals, and because the assumption that something would offend an entire group is, itself, a generalization, just like the stereotypes we all oppose. Nevertheless, most of these are so bad that they probably shouldn’t be said to anyone. The exception would be telling someone they look good. I think that’s a positive gesture, so long as it’s not phrased in a way to suggest that they normally — or previously — didn’t.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:08:10 +0000

The oppression of women continues around the world. What a loss! Think of all the achievement, all the success, all the progress that humanity has missed out on because of that oppression.