Do you believe women can work together cohesively in all-female groups?

Question

My personal experience (ROTC and waiting tables) has been that all-female groups instantly tend to form cliques and friction seems to become inherent (gossip, rumors, rivalry), to the point that the job/mission is in jeopardy. The problem seems only exacerbated with a woman in charge of the shift/platoon. I have actually heard from women who hate working with other women. In my experience men also have problems, but the conflicts tended to be short lived, and we were still able get the job done, more or less drama-free. Am I percieving this correctly or is this just an isolated anectdotal incident? I am interested in a woman's perspective.

I am biased because of personal experience. But I am seeing if my experience is common. As for basic I'm really more talking about all or majority female groups. Mixed groups seem to perform just fine.

Answer 1

I know what you're talking about (I've spent a lot of years waiting tables as well) and while the phenomenon you're describing is very common, it's not always the case-- although recently it seems to be the case more often than not.

A lot of women seem to have a predisposition toward cattiness, but this seems to be influenced in weird ways by socioeconomic status and geographical location. I grew up in New York and rarely encountered the quietly resentful form of passive-agressivity that I see living in the Midwest. When I was in New York, if a woman disliked me, she'd come up to me and say, literally, "I don't like you."

When I went to high school here, I found that Midwestern girls would tell ten of their friends instead. While still maintaining a facade of politeness. It's a bizarre thing. I don't get it. I suppose it's probably somewhat cultural and passed down generationally, but there does seem to be something about the nature of women themselves that breeds the dynamic you're talking about.

Answer 2

The only way that any group, male or female can work together is if they are united on the same goals.

I've been in all female groups before and every group that has been like the ones you are describing go into factions and jealousy because they could not get unified.

Can women get unified. Absolutely. There are many women's groups, charities, and yes, even business projects that work well, with an all female group, or female leadership. But it takes the ability of a great leader to get the group to want to be unified.

To achieve unity, you must have people that all can see the reason and desire to achieve a certain purpose.

Take waitressing (I should know, I'm a restaurant manager). On the nights when the waitresses are bickering, it's because they refuse to work as a team.

BUT, When they all see that a busy night needs them to pull together, they can achieve an outstanding evening. They help seat the door, get the cash register, help each other bus tables, take food out for one another, help each other with getting the beverages or salads, etc, the customers are happy and the work is easier. But all it takes is just one person who wants to be the prima donna or the one who doesn't want to help out, and the whole thing falls apart.

Answer 3

I can't even hang out with women, to be honest with you - I mean, there are of course exceptions - but admittedly, my close female friends are all significantly older than I am or I've known them since childhood. I find many women simply vapid.

As for working with women - if she's older than me by a long shot, it's usually okay, even if I'm more experienced in what we're doing. But if I'm working with someone young and inexperienced, I tend to be the cause of conflict!

Answer 4

I'm in the military and I work with both men and women, and I've never experienced that, not in Basic Training nor any other part of my life. Perhaps you are pre-biased to think that way therefore searching out examples that support your bias.

Answer 5

Yes they can. I have. It depends on the women in the group. If they're the catty/cliquey/shallow type, of course you're going to have problems. If they're not insecure like that the results can be quite good. (Unfortunately there seems to be a shortage of the 'not insecure' types.)

Answer 6

I believe that they can do so. I work with some folks and they are darn good and because of the way they get things done; I believe that we can rise to the occassion, but just like human nature we can work against it;

Answer 7

I have worked in groups that were all women and never a problem. Maybe we were more mature.

Answer 8

Asking this question on Y!A should earn you the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Answer 9

Of course they can, just watch The View