The Professionals and the Cons of Working in an All-Feminine Surroundings

Once I walked into work final 12 months on my birthday, there was an envelope with my title written in cursive on my desk. I used to be lower than three months into a brand new job and hadn’t introduced my birthday. Being an introvert, a slight discomfort rose as I opened the envelope.

The discomfort dissipated as I learn the customized messages written by my colleagues. I used to be grateful for the easy gesture; this was the primary time I obtained a birthday card at work. A number of months later, I returned from my honeymoon to search out one other considerate card and a wedding-decorated desk.

My colleagues’ acknowledgment of those milestones is proof that after a midlife pivot, I’ve landed someplace good. The all-female management and workforce the place I work prioritize the group’s mission by fostering a form, encouraging ambiance for shoppers and workers.

Whereas I see the perks, I’ve additionally skilled some downsides to an all-female office.

I began my profession in workplaces with boundaries

I entered the workforce throughout an period when professionalism burdened a transparent delineation between work and private lives. Within the workplaces of the media firms the place I labored as a photojournalist and reporter, workers shunned divulging particulars of their exterior lives. I welcomed these boundaries.

By the mid-2010s, successive rounds of layoffs in my trade resulted in a much less various office. Administration grew to become principally males who I keep in mind utilizing sports activities analogies, mansplaining, and all-caps emails — controlling techniques that diminished my sense of value.

A decade later, bias points pressured the final media firm I labored for to undertake insurance policies stressing protected, inclusive workplaces. The non-public grew to become political, and the motion to normalize virtually all the things took maintain. Earlier than lengthy, a office tradition emerged the place revealing intimate private data was commonplace.

But there nonetheless wasn’t a shift away from the male-dominated tradition. Lots of my feminine colleagues who survived layoffs exited the trade. Earlier than lengthy, I used to be planning my very own exit technique.

It was tough to separate myself from a career I as soon as cherished

For a number of years, I labored on reinventing myself by increasing my ability set by means of lessons and freelance work. I used to be ultimately supplied an environmental communications place. Whereas the job did not final, it launched me into the nonprofit sector.

I reside in a area with many nonprofits. The native nonprofits I am most conversant in are primarily led and staffed by good ladies captivated with serving to others. This is not shocking, as research regarding the variations in character traits have discovered that ladies are extra nurturing, tender-minded, and altruistic extra usually and to a higher extent than males — traits essential to do lower-paid, generally emotionally taxing work.

Once I began nonprofit work, I felt acknowledged and supported

I began my present communications supervisor place in early 2024. Since transitioning to nonprofit work, I’ve skilled how an all-female workforce can promote a kinder, extra collaborative office. Have an concept for one thing not in your job title? Share it. Need assistance with a challenge? There are at all times gives to help, even for initiatives requiring time exterior regular schedules.

There’s additionally the celebration of achievements. Our chief continuously shares our workforce and particular person accomplishments publicly. She gifted us with shiny yellow smiley face bells to ring after we full a tough challenge. After years with out recognition of my skilled achievements, it feels good to have my contributions acknowledged.

The skilled respect ingrained in our workplace tradition extends past job duties. If we are available late or go away early for an appointment or emergency, we will accomplish that with out advance approval. Management even encourages us to take private days after we’re feeling burdened.

This type, empathic management fashion trickles down. Just lately one among my coworkers was out for a number of days with the flu. Realizing she lives alone, we reached out with “get nicely quickly” texts and supplied to choose up her prescription and ship it to her dwelling.

There are additionally challenges

Whereas working in an all-female workplace has been a optimistic change, sure elements could be attempting. There’s inherent stress to take part in optionally available group actions resembling weekly workforce lunches and afternoon walks, which could be worrying for somebody who cherishes alone time like me.

Just lately, a compulsory retreat escalated into a chilly plunge. Voiced statements about not liking chilly water had been countered with emails about “workforce constructing.” Days earlier than, a colleague stated that she could not partake attributable to a medical concern.

In the long run, a number of of us watched the chilly plunge by means of the window of a heat home. I used to be already nervous about an in a single day cabin retreat. I wasn’t keen on the deliberate kayaking and swimming, however I additionally did not need to damage the sentiments of my colleagues planning it.

The blurring of traces between work and play may end in sudden office rigidity. When a brand new colleague joined our workforce lately, she misinterpreted the relaxed ambiance as “any matter goes.” Whereas I recognize an off-the-cuff workplace, a number of the matters she mentioned made me uncomfortable. I finally spoke up about my new colleague’s crudeness, and the difficulty was addressed.

I query whether or not the easing {of professional} manners has veered too far off-track

I’m wondering if a single-sex surroundings contributes to this. I’m wondering if my colleague would’ve acted in another way round male colleagues and if a male would’ve been terminated for related conduct round feminine coworkers.

I am not seeking to go away my job. If I ever return to a office with each women and men, I am going to deliver what I am studying about collaboration, kindness, and celebrating achievements with me.

Kate Collins is a author and nonprofit communications skilled. She lives in Ithaca, New York, together with her husband, stepson, and two foster canines.