Ask A Woman

MARC’s Ask a Woman blog gives men a chance to ask women professionals anything they want to know regarding workplace equality—no topic is out of bounds. Anonymity is guaranteed; we will not publish your name or email address. Please email your questions to MARC@catalyst.org and our growing panel of women contributors will answer them. Recent questions include:

- I do not have a senior role within my organization. How can I help fight sexism if I have no say in the realm of hiring or promotions?

- I’m having trouble working with a female supervisor, but it’s not because of her gender (or at least I don’t think it is). How can I address these issues without looking like a sexist jerk?

- Is it a bad idea to invite my company’s pretty 22-year-old new hire to join some older colleagues and me for drinks after work?

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Latest Posts

Best Male Bosses: What Makes a Guy Great to Work For?

A great male boss should trust the people who work for him and make sure they know he’s on their side, plus ask for their feedback and include them in decision-making and problem-solving.

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Posted by Mike Otterman on Feb 22, 2013 11:07 AM EST

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Are You Riding the Glass Escalator?

"The glass escalator explains why men out-earn women, even in predominately female professions like nursing and teaching."

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Posted by Mike Otterman on Jan 25, 2013 10:41 AM EST

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Cultivating the Trust of Diverse Women Employees: Advice for Managers

"Catalyst research finds that some women of color feel 'guarded' in the workplace and are uncomfortable disclosing sensitive information—including information related to their developmental needs."

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Dec 17, 2012 5:44 PM EST

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Handling Colleagues' Racial Faux Pas

"The demographics of corporate America will not change overnight . . . be prepared to 'kill with kindness.'"

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Posted by Mike Otterman on Nov 26, 2012 6:47 PM EST

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Do I owe it to my colleague to tell her what I make?

"If you decide to share this information . . . and your employer finds out and punishes you for doing so, you have a right to file a discrimination complaint . . . While the prospect of retaliation may be intimidating, you should bear in mind that the law on retaliation is very favorable to employees."

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Nov 14, 2012 4:45 PM EST

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Can't You Take a Compliment?

"When in doubt, don't stop yourself from offering a compliment. But why not pause to ask yourself what your colleague’s potential response might be first?"

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Oct 15, 2012 5:20 PM EDT

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The Only Woman in the Room: on the Perils of Being a Token

"Only recently have we begun to understand that we need a critical mass (usually considered one third of the members of any group) for women and other 'outsiders' to be seen as unexceptional."

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Oct 2, 2012 10:45 AM EDT

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Lonely at the Top: Do More Women in the Workforce Mean More Women Executives?

"There are more and more qualified women capable of running major companies—and a number of reasons why they aren’t being given the opportunity to do so."

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Sep 18, 2012 11:58 AM EDT

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Not Boss Material? Getting Comfortable with Wielding Authority

"Every mid-level manager who is destined to become more must go through the transition from 'pal' to 'boss,' regardless of his or her gender."

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Sep 6, 2012 11:10 AM EDT

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The Hidden Cost of Staying Home

"No one wants to think about what will happen if a couple doesn’t live happily ever after, but . . . Women who stay at home throughout their marriages and find themselves getting a divorce often end up in economically precarious positions . . ."

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Posted by Raina Lipsitz on Aug 20, 2012 4:35 PM EDT

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The views expressed herein are solely those of the users and contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of Catalyst. Catalyst does not endorse any political candidates. The commentaries are presented as a public service in the interest of informing the public.