Sex and the Office: Women, Men, and the Sex Partition That's Dividing the Workplace

by Kim Elsesser

Hardcover, 2015

Status

Available

Genres

Publication

Taylor Trade Publishing (2015), 256 pages

Description

"In Sex and the Office, Kim Elsesser delves into how issues as varied as sexual harassment, workplace romance, spousal jealousy, and communication styles create barriers between men and women at work. These invisible barriers, which Elsesser labels the "sex partition," tend to have the greatest impact on the careers of women, because men typically still dominate senior management, and connections with senior managers are essential for career advancement. Elsesser describes how senior male employees prefer to stick with other men, especially when it comes to dinners, drinks, late-night meetings, or business trips. When it's time for promotions or pay raises, these same executives are more likely to show preference to the employees with whom they feel most comfortable--other men. Elsesser doesn't blame men for the sex partition; instead, she describes how some common organizational practices create barriers between the sexes. She offers practical advice on how to break down the sex partition and reveals the best strategies for networking with the opposite sex. Sex and the Office is sure to spark new dialogue on the sources of the gender gap at work. "--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member VictoriaBrodersen

If you've ever wondered how the "glass ceiling" was constructed you will find this book insightful and impossible to put down. Elsesser pulls multi-disciplinary research to illustrate just what sort of horizontal barriers go into making vertical advancement in the workplace so difficult for woman

as a whole and accelerated for men in select career paths.

Show Less

6 more

LibraryThing member Angelic55blonde

This book focuses on the "glass ceiling" or as Dr. Kim Elsesser calls it, the "sex partition". This is a new view into what is holding women back at the office. It focuses on how men, and women, are uncomfortable and anxious about harassing or discriminating. She isn't arguing that men are

purposely trying to hold women back. In fact, she isn't really blaming men or women. This fear is what is causing women to be held back. Elsesser argues that modern day sexual harassment training only exacerbates this issue. When you read, you realize she is correct. Men are unwilling to have business dinners with women, and part of that can be the fear of how it will look to others. This book also offers practical advice of how to break down this sex partition and grow in the company.

I would recommend this read for any woman in the corporate world. Whether fresh out of college or 20 years into their current career. I think it is useful and eye opening. It's a quick read and not at all boring like some business improvement books can be.

Show Less

LibraryThing member BATGRLGOTHAMCITY

This book made me really think about different issues in the work place that I had not previously considered. Yes, I was one of those who also rolled their eyed at the yearly sexual harassment training with videos from the 1990s. I did not realize that I was not alone and that the training was not

fixing the problem. This book brought light a lot of different issues between the genders and helped me to keep my eyes open to these issues.

Show Less

LibraryThing member lizasarusrex

This book is just packed with information on women's rights, sexual harassment in the work place, and the relationships between men and women in the work place. It can be a controversial topic, but this is written very black and white.

If you're a young aspiring female, this is a great book to read

just to have the information stored in the brain. You never know when this is going to be an issue, or when you will need to know your rights as a woman in the workplace.

It's a difficult topic for both parties, the woman in the workplace who's at risk, along with the men who are accused or worried of being accused of being difficult. A man is worried about how he comes off, and what comments might be taken wrong.

Overall this is a great book for everyone to read, it had information that everyone should be aware of! I give this book a 4/5.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Daniel.Estes

My first impression is that Sex and the Office is practical above all else. You can easily scan the table of contents or index highlighting a particular dilemma and consult the text. My second impression is that Kim Elsesser presents a realistic portrayal of the various quandaries and predicaments

of sexual politics, which I wasn't expecting given that the subject matter often tends towards hyperbole.

Show Less

LibraryThing member bakersfieldbarbara

Very informative on women's rights in the workplace, harrassment , male-female relationships and gender gaps. I personally lost two husbands to secretaries and as a clinican, treated workplace harrassment cases. I also was once told that I could not have a raide as my male counterpaart did because

he had a familyh; I was a single mom with two children. Reading the book answered many questions and yet brought back too many painful ones. Reader, beware on this aspect of the book. It is long overdue in being written, but not easy for some who have suffered much that the book describes.

Author Kim Elsesser, a research scholor on gender issues and a professor at UCLA, is an expert guide and she demonstrates that the glass ceiling has not been shattered. Instead, a new barrier, called the 'sex partition' has been added.

Elsesser recomends hot to bred down this 'partition' with six strategies, including revising sexual harrassment training.

I recommend this book highly for those who need/want more information on this trend, and for all CEO's of all companies. If possilbe, corporations could make this required reading, and ibe brave enough to nvite Ms. Elsesser to speak to their company conferences.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Carrie.Kilgore

Why is it, after so much hard work to achieve equality, that women still earn less and advance less in their chosen professions than men? The author presents some well-reasoned answers that will surprise many. While sexual harassment policies have undoubtedly eliminated some bad behavior, those

policies have helped to create fear as well. Why risk trouble being friendly and helpful to junior women when a senior man can mentor another male instead? And then there's the subject of office romances (and jealousies) and how they can muddy the waters. Not to mention the difficulties surrounding men and women on business trips.

Is there a way out of such difficulties? The author reserves several chapters for outlining what organizations can do to help both men and women achieve more satisfying and helpful ways to relate. Well-researched and written in an engaging style, this book will spark new discussion on workplace dynamics.

Show Less

Fewer