A thriving work should never be synonymous with hostility, as a hostile workplaces environment harms overall health and well-being.
It comes as no surprise that women encounter unique challenges in industries traditionally dominated by men, such as science, technology, and engineering. A recent survey titled “The Elephant in the Valley” aimed to gather insights from over 200 women with a minimum of a decade of experience in the technology sector, primarily within the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
These women, who encompass corporate executives, founders, and venture capitalists, often express a sense of isolation and alienation within their workplaces.
The survey’s authors observe, “Women in the tech industry find it challenging to strike the right balance without being perceived as either overly submissive or overly assertive.”
The survey’s findings reveal a striking reality: 84 percent of women have been criticized for appearing too assertive, while 47 percent report being assigned lower-level tasks that are not expected of their male colleagues, such as note-taking or food ordering.
“The Early Warning Signals of Gender Disparity in Corporate Settings”
In the survey, two-thirds of the women felt excluded from social and networking opportunities due to their gender.
Denise Brosseau vividly recalls her experience of exclusion during her tenure at a tech company in Silicon Valley in her mid-30s. Initially drawn to the company because of its reputation for diversity and equal representation of women in leadership positions, her optimism waned after a few months. While riding the elevator one day, the CEO invited several male executives to play golf over the weekend, never acknowledging Brosseau’s potential interest in joining them.
“I still remember the hurt, anger, and disbelief I felt at that moment. It made me less inclined to invest my full effort into that organization from that point onward,” recounted Brosseau, now serving as the CEO of Thought Leadership Lab, during an interview with Healthline.
Brosseau emphasizes that such incidents are commonplace in Silicon Valley, which can wear down women. She calls them “the canary in the corporate coal mine.”
“Exclusion, whether from meetings, events, or golf outings, is something no one desires. When it occurs, it prompts women to question their dedication, impacting productivity and self-esteem,” she remarked. “People discuss the high attrition rate among women in the workforce but often fail to recognize the connection to these daily encounters of exclusion and discrimination.”
The Impact on Perception and Well-Being
Such behavior detrimentally affects productivity and has far-reaching consequences on women’s physical and mental health, as indicated by research findings.
In a recent survey, 88 percent of women reported instances where clients or colleagues directed questions to their male counterparts that should have been directed to them. Brosseau underlines that this is a prevalent practice within corporate tech culture. To counteract this, she used to insist on occupying the head of the table in every meeting she attended.
However, she discovered that without a proper introduction highlighting her credentials, such as her Stanford MBA, she was frequently disregarded by the predominantly male leadership, as they often assumed she held a lesser role, akin to HR or a secretary, neither of which carried significant influence.
Years of enduring such discrimination took a toll on her health. After leaving her last corporate position, she noted a significant improvement in her health within just three weeks and resolved never to return to the corporate sphere.
Studies conducted in the past have emphasized the prevalence of gender-based sexual harassment and abuse as “a substantial public health concern warranting heightened intervention and prevention measures.”
A study made in Spain, based on data from nearly 11,000 women spanning different working age groups, revealed a strong association between perceptions of sexism and indicators of poor mental health, self-perceived health, and unhealthy behaviors like smoking.
Another study examining stressors experienced by female construction workers found that those who felt compelled to overcompensate for their gender were more likely to report insomnia. Sexual harassment and discrimination were also correlated with symptoms such as nausea and headaches.
Are We Witnessing Improvement or Deterioration?
Having served as a corporate coach for the past eight years, Brosseau firmly asserts that her experiences are far from unique.
She said, “I jest that I could almost predict my future clients by paying a visit to the most prominent doctor’s offices here in the Valley.” Brosseau highlights that the immense stress many of these women endure often affects their physical well-being long before they realize they need to seek new bosses, jobs, or career paths.
“Silicon Valley places significant stress on everyone, and for women, the cumulative impact of slights, neglect, misunderstandings, or simply being undervalued takes its toll, often driving them away from the technology sector much earlier than they might otherwise choose to depart.”
The survey indicates that 60 percent of women reported experiencing harassment in their workplace, and an equivalent number expressed dissatisfaction with how management handled such situations. Brosseau advocates for enhanced management training focused on impartial assessment and eradicating personal biases, emphasizing that this could substantially transform the negative work culture for all.
“Enduring advances at work, feeling embarrassed, or being placed in uncomfortable situations as the sole woman only exacerbates the sense of disconnection,” she explains. “It’s not improving; in fact, I believe it’s worsening.”