Breaking Through Bias

March 14, 2016
According to spouses Kramer and Harris, “Women don’t need to be fixed,” but society does, and quickly. The authors begin by telling how they met at the small law firm where Kramer began her career. She was surprised that the founding partners, Harris included, treated her the same way they treated the male associates. The authors proceed to identify a serious advancement problem for women, who make up 45% of entry-level professionals but only 17% of C-suite executives. They blame this gap on the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes, which lead to a kind of “benevolent sexism” that’s as damaging as it is unintentional. Kramer and Harris acknowledge that systemic change is important, but it takes time, which leaves current would-be executives in the dust. One issue they single out is that most men believe they have no biases, and don’t understand how difficult it is for women in the workplace; persuading such men to be allies is the first step. The authors discuss managing perceptions, being aware of body language, crafting communications, and using anger to its best effect. This is a well-organized, well-thought-out call to action, but the trick will be getting men to pick it up.

Starred review from June 1, 2016
Attorneys Kramer and Harris draw on their extensive experience in this thoughtful guide to workplace communication. No time is spent debating whether gender bias exists in the workplace; the authors cite the relevant statistics and proceed into their discussion of gender stereotypes and how to combat them. Central to their technique is the expectation that women behave in a manner that is communal, seeking consensus and acceptance; and men behave in a manner that is agentic, seeking success and promotionbut when a woman behaves that way, she's derided as self-serving or aggressive. To achieve professional success, women must find a way to exhibit the agentic traits that people expect from a leader, balanced with the communal traits that people expect from a woman. The authors provide practical advice for communication and impression management as well as how to handle potentially difficult situations, such as accepting feedback and criticism, advocating for yourself, and holding your own in meetings. Though it is targeted to women, men who are interested in helping achieve workplace equity have much to gain by reading this guide, as it may open their eyes and give them some tools for challenging bias. In addition to providing intelligent guidance, it reminds us all that we have a long way to go when it comes to achieving gender equality in the workplace.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)