THEJNSREPORT

Welcome to THEJNSREPORT’S: Power Dynamics A Hypothetical Exercise

Recently, while having a brief discussion about the roles of the sexes in society and throughout history, a question was posed in which it was asked what would happen if roles were reversed between men and women in a corporate environment with women as the predominant sex and in every key position of authority?

What effect would that have on men? I immediately thought the results would be the same as when men are the predominant sex.  All the negatives that come with a corruption of power would be the same as they are with men.  This is because I fundamentally believe that all human beings are fallible.

Not a single one of us is above reproach or incapable of corruption.  It is what it means to be human, to make mistakes, to become seduced by power.  My friend who posed the question, suggested that I’d be wrong and that it’s more likely that women would have the ability to get men to tap into their feminine side more and be more compassionate and thereby would be better leaders in the roles traditionally held by men.

I admit it sounds appealing to wholeheartedly believe that.  However, it’s not practical because power in anyone’s hands male or female is capable of corrupting them more often than not.  I asserted I knew this from personal experience working in a corporate environment in which I, as a male was the sex in the minority employed there.  I saw power exercised when wielded by women was in fact no different than how it is wielded in a male dominant corporate environment.

Would there be sexual harassment in a women dominant office? Yes. Would there be targeting of one of the few males working in the entire office?   Yes. In my opinion power is transcendent of sex.

What do you think? Would women do better than men if the roles were reversed?