In the 21st century workplace, women's natural skills and abilities are going to be winners.
A recently published book, “Women After All,” by Melvin Konner, is sparking a national conversation about woman’s natural dominance over man.
Yes, you read that right.
Konner, a professor of anthropology at Emory University, claims that women are superior in all the ways that in today’s world count the most. Women have better judgment and are more trustworthy, reliable, and fair than men. Women have better work ethics, work (and play) better with others, and are less likely to act out of sexual impulse and — contrary to conventional wisdom — emotion. Women are less susceptible to brain disorders that produce destructive behavior.
Which makes you wonder why, right now, in the real world, men still earn a dollar for every 77 cents women earn. Why men’s pay raises still tend to be larger than women’s. And why women are still grossly underrepresented in boardrooms and executive suites. Some of these differences, of course, are less pronounced once you account for differences in career choice and number of hours worked, but the fact of the matter is that men still set the rules of engagement in government, business and industry.
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However, Konner holds that with fewer and fewer careers requiring brawn and strength, it’s only a matter of time until women’s natural superiority asserts itself and we take our place as equal partners in society.
Meanwhile, there is one step that women can take to reduce those inequality statistics even faster. We are used to thinking of women as being fabulous multitaskers — capable of managing the office while nursing the baby, balancing the checkbook and planning a dinner party.
But here’s a thought. What if multitasking isn’t enough? What if there’s another ingredient to career success no one is talking about?
Such as focus. You’ve probably observed it yourself — while a woman juggles a thousand different priorities, a man excludes all distractions to zero in on a single task and really excel at it.
So here’s a suggestion for women: Strive to juggle less and focus more.
Oh, and men, don’t worry. A society with women in positions of influence promises to be a more democratic, more compassionate, less violent and less discriminatory society than the one we have now. It’s going to be a win-win!
Karen Burns is the author of The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use. Email her at wg@karenburnsworkinggirl.com.