Diversity in Workplace

The dynamic of the average workplace has changed significantly in the past few decades in many ways. In terms of gender, both male and female workers now populate many fields and professions that used to be predominately male-dominated. As more women entered and remained in the workplace, attitudes about gender and work underwent a major change, and many companies began offering gender communication workshops and training programs.

Even in the increasingly progressive environment of today's workplace, gender conflict, and pre-conceived notions about gender roles continue to influence the ways that workers and employers interact with and view one another. Within traditional gender roles men are typed as breadwinners and women as caregivers. Men are viewed as analytical and better able to deal with the mental, emotional, and physical challenges of the corporate world then women, whose primary focus were their children and their families.

Overcoming and looking past these stereotypical views can pose a challenge for people of both genders, particularly when people of one gender attempt to enter a field or a workplace predominately dominated by the other.

True gender diversity at work, however, deals with issues beyond those of male and female gender roles and communication styles. While gender discrimination is something that workers must often contend with, transgender, gay, and lesbian discrimination also occurs. Employee policies concerning discrimination and fair and equal treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, age, and gender have been amended in recent years to include sexual preference and trans-gendered status as well.

Understanding that gender, sexual preference, and gender roles are not always one in the same, and learning to accept and value employees and colleagues based on personality and work performance, as opposed to actual and perceived gender characteristics and roles are crucial towards achieving a truly gender diversified workplace. Fortunately, as attitudes and perceptions change, the opportunity for people to advance in the workplace without being weighed down by pre-conceived ideas and stereotypes related to gender and sexuality are also changing.