#HipHop4Her: A ‘Boss’ Can Be A Lady

It has taken strides for women to reach the stature they hold today. Now women hold 15 percent of executive officer positions, Five percent are of Fortune 500 companies. Eight percent are top earners. These numbers are relatively low compared to men, but when compared to the numbers in the 1980s they are high. If Hillary Clinton wins the presidential candidacy women may have more opportunities in the time to come. Although this may seem exciting for women, some men aren’t too thrilled about it. Many believe that there is this genetic makeup of women that just make us incapable of holding leadership positions. Words like sensitive, timid and minor are attached to the thought of a lady boss. Why is it that the idea of female bosses makes men shudder, could it be that they’re threatened by our potential? That maybe what men can do, women can do better.

A female boss is a threat to the masculinity of men because of this male subordinates are more likely to respond aggressively to their bosses. They try to prove their manhood so that they don’t feel like less of a man. In a study published by the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, men were more likely to aim higher when negotiating wages with a female boss compared to with a male boss. This is because women are known not to be good negotiators. So a man can easily intimidate a woman to give in during a heated debate.

However, when the lady boss turns into that assertive and demanding boss we all know she has the potential to be, all of a sudden she’s a bitch. It’s hard to understand why this term is used for women who possess these qualities but not men. It seems like there is no winning.

Before, more people say that they actually enjoyed having a female boss. As for the men who can’t seem to get with the program there are ways to deal with a female boss. She is obviously the boss, so let her be just that. As a man they have to respect that she is in a higher position. As women, we easily want to befriend other women, but don’t befriend your boss. Don’t expect her to all of a sudden be on your team and fend for you every time you mess up. Don’t set the bar too high. Actually don’t set the bar at all. However, there’s nothing wrong with supporting one another, women empowerment is always good.

Due to the gender roles that society has placed on men and women, it’s hard to see women in the position of a CEO or a leader in general. But know that lady bosses are just as capable of managing a company as men are. Look at Andrea Jung, who took Avon to the top, today she is encouraging women all around the world. Men: there is no reason to feel threatened you will always have a role in society, even when girls do run the world.