TOW # 18 - Madam C.E.O., Get Me a Coffee - Written

This article was written by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant for the New York Times about women in the workplace. The article explored the misogyny and gender stereotyping inherent in the professional world, with how women are supposed to helpful and caring, assisting others with their tasks while still managing to do their own, while men aren't expected to do this. I found it interesting that this phenomenon is based on what should be antiquated stereotypes that women are supposed to be more communal and helpful, and the belief that women who aren't like this are selfish or uncaring. The authors used a personal story in order to support the argument, with the example of the manager who did more than her share of work and still didn't receive the promotion she clearly deserved. There was also another specific example, where the a female senior executive was asked to fetch a soda for someone who had a lower position.The authors also use lots of statistics in order to support their claim, with the research that shows these trends that still continue today; women are expected to be altruistic and helpful while men are supposed to be doing the most useful work and anything extra is purely optional and praise-worthy. Women are supposed to do the trivial things, or things that aren't their responsibility. The data shows that women receive less praise when they do additional work, and they also receive more backlash when they don't volunteer to do extra work. This data supports the argument because without statistical evidence, the article would have been less convincing, and it is important for a claim like this to be substantiated. The authors also used support from people as well as numbers, like the reference to Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Joan C. Williams, and their opinions on the issue, as they are credible sources. As well as addressing the problem, the authors provide a possible solution for the problem. It is easy for men to offer to do some of the "office housework" as the authors called it, instead of leaving it to women, and this will help to end harmful stereotypes and internalized misogyny in the workplace. Women who seek power and leadership are "bossy", but men who do this are "driven". Men are supposed to make important contributions to society, while the contributions of women are hidden in the background. Women should be done with being second best. It's time that men learned women don't owe you anything.