Working Relationships
It is estimated that fifty-eight percent of workplace aggressors are females and they usually prey on other females a majority of the time (Crothers et al., 2009, p. 101-102). Women have a fear of being rejected by their colleagues so they go out of their way to avoid disagreements or conflicts resulting in surface relationships where they cannot be their genuine selves (Crothers et al., 2009, p. 104). The actors of aggression can be classified into three categories: queen bees, middle bees, and victims. A queen bee is described as a female that is always protecting her status in her interactions with other females, allowing her to be able to be the first to attack should a threat be recognized (Culver, 2007, p. 164). …show more content…
668). The term queen bee was originally coined to refer to women that had been successful in a male dominated field, but were not supportive of other women advancing and continued to perpetuate the stereotypical circumstances that made it difficult for females to advance. This has been presented as proof that females are often the obstacles to each other’s careers (Derks, Van Laar, Ellemers, & De Groot, 2011, p. 1243). The underlying thought behind this is a female feels that she made it this far without the support of others, so then others can lift themselves up without her help as well (Mavin, 2006, p. 270). This is the result of two related biased ideas about females. The first is that females want and are supposed to help support other females in the workplace and the second is that the females who do not support other females are considered unfriendly and hostile (Derks, Ellemers, Van Laar, & De Groot, 2011, p. 521). However, the meaning has evolved and queen bee is most often used when referring to women that feel threatened using manipulation or passive aggressive tactics to undermine the success of other women (Cooper, 1997, p. 486). Ashcraft and Pacanowsky (2009) interviewed many women and men at a particular company that all relayed stories involving “pettiness,” cattiness,” or “intense defensiveness.” One interviewee even went as far to say that the thinly veiled jabs that take place between women, only occur for so long before it boils over into a full on confrontation (Ashcraft & Pacanowsky, 2009, p. 229). One female interviewed talked candidly about how she does not like or want another female to do better than she does and so she is not happy when it occurs; in fact, she will engage in gossip with others that feel the same way about the female
It is estimated that fifty-eight percent of workplace aggressors are females and they usually prey on other females a majority of the time (Crothers et al., 2009, p. 101-102). Women have a fear of being rejected by their colleagues so they go out of their way to avoid disagreements or conflicts resulting in surface relationships where they cannot be their genuine selves (Crothers et al., 2009, p. 104). The actors of aggression can be classified into three categories: queen bees, middle bees, and victims. A queen bee is described as a female that is always protecting her status in her interactions with other females, allowing her to be able to be the first to attack should a threat be recognized (Culver, 2007, p. 164). …show more content…
668). The term queen bee was originally coined to refer to women that had been successful in a male dominated field, but were not supportive of other women advancing and continued to perpetuate the stereotypical circumstances that made it difficult for females to advance. This has been presented as proof that females are often the obstacles to each other’s careers (Derks, Van Laar, Ellemers, & De Groot, 2011, p. 1243). The underlying thought behind this is a female feels that she made it this far without the support of others, so then others can lift themselves up without her help as well (Mavin, 2006, p. 270). This is the result of two related biased ideas about females. The first is that females want and are supposed to help support other females in the workplace and the second is that the females who do not support other females are considered unfriendly and hostile (Derks, Ellemers, Van Laar, & De Groot, 2011, p. 521). However, the meaning has evolved and queen bee is most often used when referring to women that feel threatened using manipulation or passive aggressive tactics to undermine the success of other women (Cooper, 1997, p. 486). Ashcraft and Pacanowsky (2009) interviewed many women and men at a particular company that all relayed stories involving “pettiness,” cattiness,” or “intense defensiveness.” One interviewee even went as far to say that the thinly veiled jabs that take place between women, only occur for so long before it boils over into a full on confrontation (Ashcraft & Pacanowsky, 2009, p. 229). One female interviewed talked candidly about how she does not like or want another female to do better than she does and so she is not happy when it occurs; in fact, she will engage in gossip with others that feel the same way about the female