GRRR - The Gender Bias Continues

[NavyJim58]

Let me play the devil's advocate for a minute- just for kicks. My own experiences have led me to make the following conclusions. I'm a guy and have also experienced the same things that others have written about here. There are male docs who walk across the unit to talk to me first and I've worked with plenty of bubble-headed women. I'm not sure that these traits can be attributed to women alone or even to a majority of them. Men can be scatterbrained, gossip and hold grudges just as well. Maybe it's growing up and living in a metropolitan area but in the workplace, I see men and women largely behaving the same way; demonstrating very similar characteristics. We know that sex hormones can impact behavior and that there are physiological differences in male and female brain chemistry however, I think there is more in common than a lot of us believe and that the differences we see in behavior are more due to socialization than neurotransmitter function. While there are psychological things that will never be completely understood, we are taught behavior and this instruction has a definite impact on how we conduct ourselves. For example, it's more okay for boys to be angry and act out than girls, girls can cry but boys shouldn't, and so on. There seems to be an evolution taking place in this understanding for which I'm grateful because I think will be liberating to us all.

R

"I see men and women largely behaving the same way"

Men and women largely behaving the same?...this argument doesn't hold water......have your ever read Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars?......Women are very different from men....they don't think the same and they don't act the same......when I work with women and supervise women in nursing I have to take that into account.....I treat women differently than men in some ways.....you have to.....otherwise your going to have a problem on your hands and maybe a sexual harrasment charge against you. I work with great female nurses but I'm very careful about what I do and say around them. Not so the men.

[Ricu]

"I see men and women largely behaving the same way"

Men and women largely behaving the same?...this argument doesn't hold water......have your ever read Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars?......Women are very different from men....they don't think the same and they don't act the same......when I work with women and supervise women in nursing I have to take that into account.....I treat women differently than men in some ways.....you have to.....otherwise your going to have a problem on your hands and maybe a sexual harrasment charge against you. I work with great female nurses but I'm very careful about what I do and say around them. Not so the men.

I believe I made the difference between "being the same" and "behaving the same" and specifically indicating that this behavior was observed in the workplace and not outside. There is a professional decorum being alluded to here. When working with my colleagues of both sexes, I don't change my glasses to male or female. Because I treat them in the same professional manner, I will never have to worry about a sexual harrassment lawsuit. Were I to set two standards, I might then have reason to worry. When I was an administrator, I used the same philosophy then and my employees appreciated my impartiality. My wife is in senior management and views behavior the same way. No double standard. Outside of the workplace and with friends and family, things are different for all of us. I think you and I will always view this issue differently, Jim. Can we agree to disagree?

[NavyJim58]

I believe I made the difference between "being the same" and "behaving the same" and specifically indicating that this behavior was observed in the workplace and not outside. There is a professional decorum being alluded to here. When working with my colleagues of both sexes, I don't change my glasses to male or female. Because I treat them in the same professional manner, I will never have to worry about a sexual harrassment lawsuit. Were I to set two standards, I might then have reason to worry. When I was an administrator, I used the same philosophy then and my employees appreciated my impartiality. My wife is in senior management and views behavior the same way. No double standard. Outside of the workplace and with friends and family, things are different for all of us. I think you and I will always view this issue differently, Jim. Can we agree to disagree?

Of course, i'm not hard to get along with.....as you might have guessed I have had a personal issue with a female colleage that colors my thinking. But I know several others it has happened to also.

[Ricu]

Of course, i'm not hard to get along with.....as you might have guessed I have had a personal issue with a female colleage that colors my thinking. But I know several others it has happened to also.

Hey Jim,

I figured we could see past our differences and I'm glad. Sorry to hear about the clash with the female colleague. Hope it doesn't follow you around. As you inferred, it's not a unique situation. I'm sure that wherever men and women work together, there will be waves.

Have a good one,

R

[NavyJim58]

Roger that Ricu

[SoldierNurse]

Hey MagRedC5......glad to see your doing ok over there......are you staying out of harm's way?.......the news i'm reading everyday makes me worry about you man......gender bias over there?......you all have to watch each others back.

Ricu, I just attended a pin-ing ceremony on Friday. 85 new RN's graduating from nursing school. No old white cap's in sight. 9 males in the graduating class.

yes, we got the ice cream sunday freebie's also and gifts like umbrella's and jackets and hats and stuff. It's nice of the hospital. The Spa day went over real well with the female nurses and I would recommend they do it again next year. This hospital has less in fighting and more getting along than any place I have worked. Or maybe i'm just easier to get along with now. :39:

NavyJim58,

We have been attacked by mortars three times, but no one was hurt. Plus, a convoy did not make it to our Camp yesterday, but I don't have the details. [Nor, D/T OPSEC could I give any info. ] Also, heard one of our mail trucks was hijacked.. so that is why I have not received mail lately, LOL!

BTW, I'll have my own little pin-ing ceremony next month. The Army Nurse Corps Captain promotion list came out last week and I'm sequence #6, which means I'll be promoted some time next month.

[SoldierNurse]

"I see men and women largely behaving the same way"

Men and women largely behaving the same?...this argument doesn't hold water......have your ever read Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars?......Women are very different from men....they don't think the same and they don't act the same......when I work with women and supervise women in nursing I have to take that into account.....I treat women differently than men in some ways.....you have to.....otherwise your going to have a problem on your hands and maybe a sexual harrasment charge against you. I work with great female nurses but I'm very careful about what I do and say around them. Not so the men.

In retrospect, I wish more female nuring supervisors realized that men & women nurses think differently, which would alleviate a few communication problems, IMHO. However, in my nursing world I find the female supervisors try to act like men... must be the military uniform, LOL. Actually, it helps that in the Army Nurse Corps roughly 33% of the RNs are males. Plus, I'm often the Charge Nurse of our little ICU.

Sexual harrasment charge? I'm so tired of all the mandatory in-service training on sexual harrassment I've had to attend since being deployed. LOL, in this environment it is very easy for me to stay faithful to my wife. Not that I would ever be unfaithful to my wife, but certainly not here in the freak'n Sandbox.

Later...

[NavyJim58]

NavyJim58,

We have been attacked by mortars three times, but no one was hurt. Plus, a convoy did not make it to our Camp yesterday, but I don't have the details. [Nor, D/T OPSEC could I give any info. ] Also, heard one of our mail trucks was hijacked.. so that is why I have not received mail lately, LOL!

BTW, I'll have my own little pin-ing ceremony next month. The Army Nurse Corps Captain promotion list came out last week and I'm sequence #6, which means I'll be promoted some time next month.

Wow!! Mortared times 3......keep your pot on......lost convoy and mail truck?.......sounds like your in the "thick" of it.....

Congratulations Captain.....good you don't have to wait long to pin it on.
Quick story.....my wife was an Army Captain in Hawaii when we were dating. I got us on a Navy flight to San Francisco for the weekend. We land near San Francisco and a staff car is waiting at the bottom of the ladder. they thought she was a Navy Captain! We got VIP treatment both coming and going back. was great. Keep safe, Jim

[NavyJim58]

In retrospect, I wish more female nuring supervisors realized that men & women nurses think differently, which would alleviate a few communication problems, IMHO. However, in my nursing world I find the female supervisors try to act like men... must be the military uniform, LOL. Actually, it helps that in the Army Nurse Corps roughly 33% of the RNs are males. Plus, I'm often the Charge Nurse of our little ICU.

Sexual harrasment charge? I'm so tired of all the mandatory in-service training on sexual harrassment I've had to attend since being deployed. LOL, in this environment it is very easy for me to stay faithful to my wife. Not that I would ever be unfaithful to my wife, but certainly not here in the freak'n Sandbox.

Later...

I don't want to "beat a dead horse"....i'll just say that you have to be careful because the way Sexual Harrasment charges are dealt with are unfair......the charge is enough....they don't have to show real proof.....the EOC usually comes back and says they can't verify the charge but it could still be true.....The PC boss wants to cover his/her butt so they screw you anyway.....got to be careful......

I have seen several good people get screwed over this way...

When's the wetting down party? take care, Jim

[SoldierNurse]

Wow!! Mortared times 3......keep your pot on......lost convoy and mail truck?.......sounds like your in the "thick" of it.....

Congratulations Captain.....good you don't have to wait long to pin it on.
Quick story.....my wife was an Army Captain in Hawaii when we were dating. I got us on a Navy flight to San Francisco for the weekend. We land near San Francisco and a staff car is waiting at the bottom of the ladder. they thought she was a Navy Captain! We got VIP treatment both coming and going back. was great. Keep safe, Jim

Thanks for the congrats!

It does get a little confusing with the Navy rank terminology. Even though I'm prior service Marine, the USMC & Army rank terminolgy is far more similar than compared to the Navy. I always thought the term Petty Officer to be an odd enlisted rank... small & insignificant

BTW, seriously doubt I'll get the same VIP treatment, even if our FOB Commander is a Navy 0-6, LOL.