Question

According to a BusinessWeek summary of management studies, which of the following is characteristic of men in the workplace, compared with women? A) Men are more likely to seek help and support from colleagues. B) Men are more likely to downplay their accomplishments. C) Men are more likely to take on high-visibility assignments. D) Men are more likely to prioritize work-life balance.

Answer 1

Men in the workplace are more likely to take on high-visibility assignments. This behavior is influenced by societal gender stereotypes that appreciate ambitious behavior in men, their task-oriented leadership styles and the lesser conflicts they face with personal and professional roles.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to a BusinessWeek summary of management studies, it appears that men in the workplace are most characteristic of option C: Men are more likely to take on high-visibility assignments. This is evident from several studies that were reviewed.

One study by Conroy, Martin, and Nadler (2020) portrays a strong correlation between gender stereotypes and their role in the workplace. Men’s ambitious and assertive behavior is highly appreciated, leading them to undertake high-visibility assignments. On the other hand, the same kinds of behaviors in women are perceived as being overly competitive or selfish, limiting their advancement to leadership roles in the workplace. Another research by Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, & van Engen (2003) concludes that men tend to practice task-oriented styles of leadership, which may include taking on projects with high visibility.

A contributing factor to men taking up high-end tasks might be the absence of conflict between their roles as fathers and workers. This is highlighted by Ogden (2019), who suggest that men face lesser conflicts between their personal and professional roles, unlike women who have historically had difficulty juggling expectations of being both 'good mothers' and 'good workers'.

Learn more about Men in Workplace