blogher? just support her, it's simple.

My post on the gender-specific event blogher, which I refered to as flogher due to the slapdown that ensued there, got some interesting comments from both sexes.

about Blogher. Dear Kristen, This is what happens in the corporate world every day. Put a whole bunch of ambitious, formerly-held-down women in a room and unleash their tongues, and you get what’s called a catfight or a smackdown, you choose. Men have always protected each others sins and pleasures. Women don’t. Ask any women who her fiercest critics have been, and you have your answer. It’s the reason men rule the boardroom, we women are so competitive and “mean” to each other to use your own words, that I’d rather work in a room full of man eating lions than in corporate. girldom. We claim to not want divisions based on gender and then have “blogher.” Why not flogher? And, if anyone of us, ( even those like me who try to support womens’ efforts where-ever I go), can say they don’t commit the sins you list below, regularly, then I’ll eat both my hat and shoes. Sex in the city wasn’t a hit just because of the sex, it was the sharp competitive girl chat that made it a hit. yours Wisequeen. Tags: behaviour, blogher, business, flogher, gender issues, girldom, gossip, men, opinions, roles, women, women in business One of the most valuable comments, not just because I agree with every word of it, but because its the truth, was from my co-blogger over at b5media Miranda, she blogs at www.yieldlingwealth.com Here it is, let me know what you think guys( that's guys and girls, for the politically correct among you) July 26th, 2008 at 12:36 pm edit Women have many redeeming qualities as workers. But I do agree that solidarity with other women is not one of those qualities. As mentioned, men will protect each other’s sins and pleasures. But women have been brought up not to enjoy those pleasures, and society has routinely punished women for the pleasures men have traditionally enjoyed. Additionally, women have — for a large chunk of history (some of it quite recent) — been dependent on “their” men. For their survival, women have had to be aligned with and protected by husbands, fathers and brothers. It means that instead of identifying with each other, they have to identify with men. They have had to fight each other to “gain” protection from men. Women have, consequently, developed a set of weapons for advancement that is completely different from men’s. I think it’s also interesting that some have expressed the opinion that women need to act more like men. You know what happens when women act more like men? They are castigated for doing so. Consider: When I openly competed with men and women in academia and in the workplace, I was labeled “aggressive” and “bitchy” and “too opinionated.” In other words, I was acting like a man. (But in men, aggressiveness — it’s called assertiveness when it’s a man — and strong opinions are valued.) But if I had been “sneaky” and “passive” in my efforts, “acting like a woman,” I would have been labeled “catty.” Women are in a very tough position: Just look at Hillary Clinton. When she “acted like a man” she was flogged by everyone for not being feminine enough. When she “acted like a woman” to soften her image, she was ridiculed for being too emotional and not tough enough to handle a “man’s job.” Michelle Obama is just starting to get the same sort of treatment. Bottom line: Society still doesn’t like women who “act like men.” Women have come a long way — many of us overcoming the societal position and pressures we’ve been dealt. But there is still, obviously, a long way to go. miranda Do you agree or disagree? your comments below please Wisequeen Something we can all agree on is that, the "businesstime" video below on my launch announcement, is hilarious, whatever gender you communicate in! Watch it, I defy you not to laugh. Wisequeen launch party on August 1st, 2008 be there! Un-common sense advice for business, life’s rules, etiquette, money, startups, entrepreneurship, conundrums, and everything in between. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conundrum