To what extent can you change an aggressive, macho company culture?

Answer 1

Depends entirely on your role in the company.

Answer 2

It really depends on the regulations they have to abide by.

Macho can be seen in many areas but, I guess how I am answering your question is macho, aggressive in regards to the main players in Corporate America who have a tendency to over run the little players.

You can also try to avoid to purchasing products or services from people who are overly aggressive. It may cost you a little more to buy from the smaller guy but the end result is that you are personally putting effort in to changing the culture. Strength in numbers.

There are a lot of other areas were companies need to tone down aggression.

Answer 3

When I was a young woman I just had to put up with it. Those were the days when men were in charge of everything, and women like me who wanted to make a difference got REAL sh*t thrown at them.

The kinds of sexism and macho culture you find in companies these days is NOTHING compared to what it was in the 70s and 80s.

Sadly, the only way I ever found to change anything was to fight them on their own terms. I learned how to kick their b*lls (figuratively speaking of course).

I'm not particularly proud of that. I'd rather have won the intellectual argument. But maybe I just wasn't intellectual enough.

But now that I'm old and grey, people listen to me. Funny really. And I find that I can now make a difference without being aggressive myself.

I don't know your age or gender - but maybe you should make allies with the women aged 40+ in the company. They may be thinking what you are thinking, and they may be able to do something about it.

Answer 4

You can't change anything run by the "Old Boys Network".

Answer 5

Wear a skirt and heels.