Posted on 11/29/2005 12:38:34 PM PST by Millee
Attractive people may sometimes have a leg up in climbing corporate ladders. But sexy presentation on its own can work against women who are already well up the ladder.
In a new study, men and women where shown videos of a businesswoman discussing her backgrounds and hobbies. In different tests, she played the part of either a receptionist or a manager. And in one round she wore flat shoes, slacks, and a turtleneck, all considered typical professional attire. In the other, she donned high-heels, a tight skirt, and a low-cut blouse.
The test subjects rated the businesswoman on competence and guessed at her college GPA and the quality of her Alma Mater.
The sexy outfit didn't affect their assessment of the receptionist. But the sexy manager was viewed as less competent.
"A female manager whose appearance emphasized her sexiness elicited less positive emotions, more negative emotions, and perceptions of less competence on a subjective rating scale and less intelligence on an objective scale," the researchers write in the December issue of Psychology of Women Quarterly. "Although various media directed toward women …encourage women to emphasize their sex appeal, our results suggest that women in high status occupations may have to resist this siren call to obtain the respect of their co-workers."
The research was led by Peter Glick, a professor of Psychology at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.
We're actually owned by a very large company right now, who would probably be unhappy (on EEOC grounds) if they knew how we made hiring decisions.
I am going to need to see many, many, many example pictures before I can make a judgement.
Okay! Lunch at Hooters tomorrow!
If it were me and my husband was making good money, I wouldn't work as a receptionist.
AND I'd show my boobs at the ballet patron party, the symphony opening night, the museum ribbon cutting ceremony.
Not the office.
I don't know...what does a receptionist make - $25,000? All the better to make my - uh - point(s).
That
was
evil.
Nonsense. This doesn't happen anywhere near as often as legend would have it - and when it does it's usually because the Company Creep made the mistake of leering at the Company Psycho.
As much as I like the tight skirt, the business blazer does it for me too.
And it's been my experience that women care more about what other women are wearing than men.
Most men think "harrass" is two words anyway...
Well, it would be appropriate at my company......
If I actually had my own company. :-)
How the viewers were selected might tell us more about Professor Glick than the rest of the study would tell us about anything.
Short sleeved blazer, mid-cut blouse, hair in an up-do and classic make-up. Do try this look for work!
Oh, has a new issue of the scientific journal Duh come out?
SD
I am so glad I'm in the profession,
the town and the facility I work in.
I feel very lucky now.
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