Gender stereotypes, particularly towards female employees, have been reported to be the root of some discrimination cases. Some beliefs about what women are like or should be like cause many women in the workplace to miss out on opportunities.
Here are four common stereotypes about female employees that can result in discrimination:
Female employees have caregiving responsibilities
An employer may believe that their female employees have caregiving responsibilities, such as taking care of their family, which can interfere with their ability to succeed in the work environment. Consequently, such an employer may deny them promotions, leadership positions or overtime assignments.
Female employees who work part-time are less committed
Some employers with part-time employees tend to assume that female employees who work part-time are less committed to their jobs than male employees who do the same. This stereotype might stem from believing they are working part-time solely because of family obligations.
Accordingly, when the employer has an opening for a full-time position, they might only consider male part-time employees.
Female employees prefer or should prefer spending time with their families
Due to societal expectations and traditional beliefs, some employers assume that female employees prefer or should prefer spending time with their families rather than at work. Thus, they overlook them for training and promotions.
Mothers have caregiving responsibilities that can affect their work
Female employees with childcare responsibilities can be viewed as less committed to their duties compared to others, including female and male employees with no children and male employees with children. Motherhood biases negatively impact many working mothers.
Stereotypes regarding female employees create a career ceiling. If you have experienced discrimination based on an assumption made by your employer, legal guidance can help you protect your career.