Home : Toppling the Ladder of Gender Differences

Toppling the Ladder of Gender Differences

Posted by Karen Kahn Wilson on 10/7/2005 at 4:22 PM

Trump University Faculty

Recent scientific studies suggest that men's and women's brains are structured in some fundamentally different ways. This new data showing that men and women possess different neurological "hard wiring" indicate that men and women may also approach life--their work and relationships--differently. If these gender differences are aligned with the appropriate business and educational practices, society can optimize the talents of both genders.

Given the positive potential of such revelations, I was confused by two recent experiences. The other day I sent an e-mail to a prominent author whose new book fascinated me. I thought his concepts for new business paradigms might have an interesting impact on the future for both genders in the work place. He thanked me for my note, but said that he didn't want to comment on my questions about men, women, and the workplace because the topic was a "slippery slope."

Several days later, in a meeting with the CEO of a major financial services firm, I mentioned the new studies. I offered my opinion that these ideas suggested new ways to optimize human capital. He became uncomfortable and said that he "didn't feel ready" to explore such a topic even though he acknowledged that I was introducing him to "thought- provoking" ideas.

It is interesting to me that the mere mention of male/female differences, even considering that exploring those differences might have a positive impact on society, makes people anxious. Our culture translates the word differences to mean "better than/worse than" and becomes tied up by the fear of being accused of discrimination. The business community as well as society at large must confront this worldview and transform it into a value-free, horizontal way of considering differences among us.

Peering under our cranial hoods has yielded some evidence about gender differences. This knowledge, combined with new business practices, has the potential to advance the development of strong, collaborative gender relationships, capable of succeeding in the fast paced, global economy we live in. It will also promote a work culture that can help both men and women maximize their potential.

Karen Kahn Wilson is a member of the Trump University faculty. Prof. Wilson will be leading an exclusive live Web course, Success Strategies for Women, based on her groundbreaking work in women-centric studies (begins October 19, 2005). To learn more, click here.

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21 Comments

Posted by Ralph G. on 10/07/2005 4:31 PM

We really need to apply Karen Kahn Wilson's ideas ASAP-- this is something we truly need. The boardrooms of corporate America have for too long turned a blind eye to the essential differences between men

Posted by Denise Archuleta on 10/07/2005 7:01 PM

In my last post I stated that the natural differences between men and women would always be prevalent in any company or team and that the more we learn about people, the more success we will have. We have travelled a long way in distinguishing the differences between media portrayed sexism and true sexism, but it does exist. The studies are a key ingredient to smoothing the waters. Hopefully the results will help those women who are truly being suppressed

Posted by Mary Rose Murrin on 10/08/2005 8:16 AM

Science also shows that there is more overlap in these characteristics in men and women than there are dissimilarities. The promise is that we change our ideas of what makes a good executive allowing more room for tendencies that are more representative of the female predominant characteristics. The danger is that we don't develop differing roles in companies or define persons displaying more feminine characteristics in ways that lower their pay, power, or prestige. Any changes that occur should allow men as well as women the opportunity to take advantages of the new flexibilities. A good example of this is allowing men as well as women to take parental leave after the birth of a child. Any adjustments made for women need to apply equally to both sexes, due to the variability in these characteristics.

Posted by Steve on 10/08/2005 11:22 AM

Thank you, thank you, THANK you for posting this idea. I am a man, and I love working with women -- because they are WOMEN. They think differently, act differently and bring a different tone to everything they do. Why in the world do we not embrace this as a positive? Why in the world do we want women to be men, and why do they want to be (I've experienced this recently, and it puzzles me still)? Businesses need both to succeed and they need their men and women to BE men and women. Isn't that the definition of diversity?
Thanks again, Steve

Posted by Paul Riccio on 10/08/2005 3:26 PM

What's also unfortunate, is even in today's colleges the mere mention of gender differences in any manner is politically uncorrect. I am a business student, and it would be nice if those principles mentioned

Posted by Ina M. on 10/10/2005 2:34 AM

It is all about being the master of the mind, not the servant.Thoughts are like clouds,our very being is vast, blueness sky. Catch the gap between clouds,and there you are.Woman catch it through love,man with meditation. It is only different way to same goal.Thats the beauty of life:-)

Posted by Ina M. on 10/10/2005 3:34 AM

Planet Earth is in great dissbalans considering male and female energy.The stroken places suffers the most from this *illnes*.The key is the open heart.I admire Your work Mrs.Karen.

Posted by Ina M. on 10/11/2005 7:26 AM

My favorite writer, Osho Rajeesh wrote:"My whole life has been devoted to only one single program: how to bring love and meditation together - because only through that meeting a new humanity is possible. And only in the meeting of love and meditation, the duality of man and woman - the inequality of man and woman - disappears."
I like to read You all.Love and light:-)

Posted by Alexander Orok on 10/11/2005 10:11 AM

What an insight in such a new discovery about the mental faculty of both man and woman.

But if one should introduce the trueness of one moment that results to the essence of our living, don't you think it's possible to eliminate the difference?

What a wonderful topic. Now I have a better understanding of these faculty.

Posted by Karen Kahn Wilson on 10/11/2005 1:39 PM

I am grateful to everyone who has written so far and would love to expand the dialogue. Changing what we consider as "politically correct" beyond the mere mention of differences to seeing that the essence of "correctness" is honoring the strengths and characteristics of each person. With that being said, lets work to develop truly co-gendered work settings. I hope many of you will join the course "Success Strategies for Women" where we will begin to look at the knowledge that is needed to pursue this direction. Other observations are welcome and I hope will continue.

Posted by Ina M. on 10/12/2005 4:52 AM

Mrs. Karen, I belive in your vision and strenght and I am so sorry that I will not attend your seminar because of time zone and tech. requieremnt.But I will try to equip myself to learn from You.You can even imagine how does it look like in a country where the communist party was rulling for 50 years. Typical male control and domination. If you did not fit, you were the enemy of the system.Female energy was totaly repressed.

Posted by Ben Adams on 10/12/2005 10:15 PM

Male perspective: In the professional world, I see no limitations to what I can accomplish. In the same professional world, I see no limitations to what my ba

Posted by Jeff Gross on 10/13/2005 12:17 PM

In my humble experiences, I find it more difficult having a woman as a boss than having a man as a boss. My wife has expressed a similar opinion. She would rather work for a man than a woman. I think men generally tend to be more forgiving, easy going and accepting of others ideas. GENERALLY. There are many exceptions, but in my 46 years, I can definitely say that I would rather work for a man.

Posted by Nimrod - Beverly Hills, CA on 10/17/2005 6:26 PM

Hello Karen Kahn Wilson. Gender differences are good!, great!, fantastic! which is why God made Adam and Eve and not Adam and Steve. Speaking about Adam and Eve, the prevalent "WRONG" interpretation of the Adam and Eve story, especially Genesis 3:16 "...and thy desire shalt be to thy husband, and he shall rule over you" has caused great suffering, harm, disrespect and domestic violence to women and has subliminally created the battle of the sexes in many aspects of our lives. It could be argued from this same warped religious point of view that it is God's Will for men to brutally dominate women because the women is evil and caused the Fall of Man and there

Posted by Ina M. on 10/19/2005 5:37 AM

This message is for Nimrod. I stand beside You.California NEEDS people like You for the future.Love and light:-)

Posted by Nimrod - Beverly Hills on 10/21/2005 3:27 PM

Thank you Ina M. I appreciate the lovely spirit being that you are and I appreciate your words of support and that you stand beside me. But my mission may be larger than what you understand it to be. The "ENTIRE PLANET EARTH" needs people like me. The future is now. Sincerely, Nimrod (Dr. Nimrod Erech Melchizedek Christ Nimrod).

Posted by Ina M. on 10/24/2005 2:05 AM

Dear Nimrod,I *see* Your mission, i feel it.I am very happy that you come to this wonderful Trump blog and that your message is here and now:-)Future is *changeble*, it depends on all of us.Love and light.

Posted by Nimrod - Beverly Hills on 10/27/2005 2:37 AM

Karen Kahn Wilson. I offered you my assistance but neglected to give you a way to contact me. Karen, my e-mail address is Nimrodworldpeace@aol.com. Co-founder of the Self-Esteem & World Peace Association. Power to the people. Nimrod.

Posted by Nimrod - Beverly Hills on 10/27/2005 1:51 PM

Ina M., your kind words are appreciated. Yes Ina the future is changeable. And it does depend on all of us. Our future was pre-ordained

Posted by Sherry Moore on 11/25/2005 5:19 PM

As a female, I'm personally deeply offended

Posted by Krystina Levine on 11/30/2005 9:35 AM

Men and Women are different. From physical, mental to chemical. To try and ingnore, the fact, that we are different is just benighted. This does not mean that one is good and one is bad or that one is lesser than the other. If thoes who see differences only in a negative discriminatinatory aspect could open up their eyes to the positive distinctions of our culture the world would be a more acceptant place.

I believe that people have trepidation of such a study because they speculate the findings would be offensive to "womankind". I sense that the study has the capacity to reveal that women make better CEO's! It could be our opportunity to prove scientifically that our gender can succeed at any level and even more so when our culture is geared towards it.

My husband and I own a construction company. Being involved 24/7 we know eachothers strenghts and weakness's. We know that we are different on many levels and use this knowledge to help each other grow - not hurt each other. Our differences are what make this world a marvelous and wonderfully amazing place. If we were all "the same" it would be terribly uninteresting.

Food for thought - There are many diseases that affect one gender more than the other. The findings of the aforementioned study could aid scientists in the treatment of many diseases.

Mr. Trump - you have never been one to let yourself slide down a slippy slope. You have the tools of the trade to get you up any slope. I suggest you sit with your advisers again and tell them that this could be a great advancement for women, men, science and business. Don't let the nay-sayers have their way.

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