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Sex and Business Some conclusions from the research
1. Corporate
society is like a blank sheet of paper on which a new social order is waiting to
be written; in the past women and men met in 'private life' in relationships
related to the body (one was either with one's mother, sister, daughter or
father, etc., or a lover or husband-wife during long-term relationships); now
women and men are expected to work together over the long term and relate in
totally new kinds of ways, ways we are now creating; this will filter back into
the society and private life and change things there too... 2. The situation
in 'the world' now resembles the atmosphere at the end of apartheid rule in
South Africa. Though 'true equality' between men and women at work
(salaries are still not equal, nor has real progress been made in the last
twenty years on this front) has not yet been achieved, this does not mean it
will not be achieved in the relatively near future. Why? Because, as
in South Africa previously, there is an atmosphere that 'change is coming,
change is inevitable, change will be good and positive'. Most people now
do not have the will to continue the old system of discrimination; they believe
that equality (of opportunity, salary, education, etc.) should exist. With
this atmosphere, a 'revolution' (such as the debate about 'parity' heralded) is
in the wings 3. Men do not
'hate' the idea of women's equality: though many media repeat clichés about men
being 'uncomfortable' and 'wanting to resist' the new situation at work, with
'women bosses' or 'lots of women running things', in fact, many men like working
with women. Their reasons for appearing reticent to promote women onto
executive boards of directors are other; according to my research and theories,
men are often held back by the initiation rites our society puts them through at
puberty, i.e., at puberty boys hear from 'bigger boys' at school comments like,
'Are you a wimp? Are you a sissy? A momma's boy? Come on and
get out and play sports with the other boys!' Through
these bullying rituals, boys learn that in order to gain/keep status in groups
of men, they should not do anything 'feminine' nor should they bring girls/women
along with them into those groups. (Click
here to read more about the rituals of male puberty)
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