Wednesday, August 27, 2008

The itch to bitch

Met up with a few women last week. There were three of them, two were colleagues from a place I worked in a long time ago, the other was a friend of theirs who I did not know.

The conversation started off with the Hikkaduwa beach festival and topless photos that were doing the rounds (will someone please send them to me? How come I've been left out of the fun, huh?) and then moved onto work.

Two of the girls had worked in the apparel trade and they were complaining of how difficult it was to work if there were too many women in senior management. Their company had seven women managers (and a cute guy as the boss, which made things worse) and the biggest problem was catfights.

I said that politics was always a part of office life although some places were probably worse than others. I didn't think there was a difference when it came to men and women; power and money coupled with insecurities would drive the politics.

But no, the ladies disagreed. The women were infinitely worse. Men would fight but they would not spend much time arguing, the battles would be silent power plays. With women it would be bitch, bitch, bitch. The grievances would be pretty petty as well, with shoes and clothes being causes for complaint, which would not be the case with men.

They related an incident where two women would bitch together, then they would go off and bitch about each other.

It was bit of an eye opener for me. I steer pretty clear of politics anyway. Does anyone else feel the same was as these girls?

6 comments:

Foxhound said...

Yeah this is something I've been beginning to realize. They say women are way better at getting along and stuff... but is isn't true.

In fact like you say, when the competition is between women it's a hell of a lot worse!

TheWhacksteR said...

i would say the politics and the fighting are basically the same between the sexes. as you said, only variables being power money, insecurities, opportunities etc. its just that the way the battle is fought is different. guess thats why they call it 'bitchin' cs guys hardly do it.

Lady divine said...

I'm with whackster....

But, there are some guys who do 'bitch'... and they take the world around them on one helluva tour...

Catchy title btw..:)

Dee said...

My new boss told me yesterday that women are worse coz they tend to complicate things. (She is a woman..hehe) I wonder if I'd ever get the perfect boss...hmm..or is that an oxymoron..? :D

TheWhacksteR said...

deecee the perfect boss is you.. so until you work for yourself it will remain an oxymoron haha

Jack Point said...

Thanks LD, actually think I ripped the title from an article I saw a long time ago. I'm not 100% sure I might have unconsciously changed a word or two but I know I saw something similar years ago.