Tag Archives: gender

This post is strictly for the ladies

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I am always reading articles and books and tweets and such about how I can Live My Best Life, particularly as a Woman in Business.

Via Memeguy

In particular, I love to learn about negotiating tactics and career development. I know not to be afraid to ask for what I deserve, but I get tripped up on this: the other side has to be open to hearing me.

There have been times when I have spoken clearly about what I am seeking, only to be labeled “aggressive” and “confident.” What he (and it’s always been a he) meant was “cocky” or “arrogant.” It was not a compliment, I felt sure.

Recently Ellen Pao, interim CEO of Reddit, announced that the company has eliminated salary negotiation from the hiring process in an effort to address the gender wage gap.

Acknowledging this is key. From Pao:

Men negotiate harder than women do and sometimes women get penalized when they do negotiate.

But part of me worries that this is akin to teaching women how to avoid being raped instead of telling men not to rape. Shouldn’t we all just learn that it’s normal to have women ask for what we’re worth?

What do you think?

The end of the Letterman era. Who’s next?

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Letterman is retiring. I think it’s for the best. He used to be so lively and fun.

Via David-Letterman.com

Now? Cranky, sometimes mean.

On one hand, I hope women are in the mix for the new host of Late Night.

Very much so.

On the other, it’s a very specific career path. If you’re good at it, you hold the post for the rest of your active career. If you’re bad – rather, if ratings aren’t stellar – you get replaced and your image takes a hit.

Via Wikimedia and NBC

Why would someone like the awesome Tina Fey set herself up for that while also potentially limiting her ability to work on other projects like television show development and films and best-selling books?

Via THR

Johnny Carson occasionally had guest hosts cover for him. Reruns are the worst. Who wants to sit through, say, Russell Crowe promoting Noah months later?

Is it time for the talk show model to change? If so, how?

Update: Ellen would be perfect for this. 

Conformity…blah. Also Yay Kristen Stewart via @katespencer.

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@katespencer’s post about the awesome Kristen Stewart and the hate that gets thrown at her for not being what people want or expect got me thinking.

I was a girl who liked pink. OK, I loved it. Pink outfits, pink bedding, all of it.

It’s probably for the best that the whole “Princess” and “Diva” phenomena didn’t exist when I was a kid. I’m not sure I would have managed to avoid it — or even wanted to.

Sometimes I’d hear an adult describe my awesome childhood best friend as a tomboy. She was more athletic than me. Cooler than me too, I’d like to note.

I was “girly” doing “girly” things like cheerleading, dancing and following godawful hair trends of the late 80s and early 90s.


My parents were pretty traditional then. Mom still has her moments. For example, telling me “ladies don’t drink beer” in the presence of a woman, such as her sister-in-law, actively enjoying a beer. It’s a miracle Mom’s never been punched.