The Murray State News

Issue date: 8/22/08 Section: Opinion

Let's fast forward through time - a few years from now, if all goes according to plan, you'll be clutching that coveted diploma. Afterward you land the job of your dreams in the perfect location with the perfect salary.

Life is good, right? Right, except for the fact that your boss is a sexist pig.

The more you tell yourself he's just joking when he calls you "prom queen," the more degrading the comments.

With comments like these, it's no wonder young, competent women keep hitting their head on the glass ceiling.

How is anyone supposed to take them seriously?

Workplace dynamics and gender roles are often confusing land mines, which are hard to avoid in any job situation.

Men and women think differently. We all know that, but sometimes this means messages sent from one gender is not necessarily received as intended by the opposite gender.

Where can co-workers, management and subordinates draw the line between harmless joking and sexual harassment?

Of course there are laws and rules against this type of inappropriate behavior, but does that mean it doesn't happen? No.

The cost of bringing a hard-to-prove sexual harassment suit to court is several thousand dollars. Adding in the scrutiny of the press and unemployment, what entry-level employee would choose to bring up a complaint?

I'm here to tell you that little fairy tale of equal opportunity employment is about as true as "The Little Mermaid."

Sex sells, right? So many young women are faced with an ethical decision: Work the system to their advantage or fight for equality.

If the boys' club isn't playing by the rules, why should they have to?

The choice is all too easy.

They curl their eyelashes, slip into sexy black stilettoes and pray their boss likes their new shade of lip gloss - great for the occasional brown nosing and butt kissing in which they will undoubtedly be participating.

Before long, these women are the employees of the month, sipping lattes and skipping rungs on their way to the top of the corporate ladder.

All that for the small price of their dignity and setting the feminist movement back a hundred years.

Ladies, I'm here to tell you there is a better way.

Obviously, there are various shades of gray when it comes to communication, workplace dynamics and gender roles.

What about welcomed flirtations and building positive relationships with co-workers of the opposite sex? These are all very important in the development of a happy, healthy work environment; however there is a fine line between harmless fun and damaging words.

Continued...

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