Getting mad At Work Is A Male Prerogative

When men blow their tops at work they appear authoritative, but women—from trainees to CEOs—are penalized for such behavior, new research finds. In studies published in the March issue of Psychological Science, about 400 male and female professionals watched video dramatizations of botched office situations. When women got angry, they were overwhelmingly seen as incompetent, out of control, and worth less pay than their male counterparts. As for men who got mad: “People assume it’s reasonable,” says study co-author Victoria Brescoll, a Yale University researcher. When they explained why they got angry, women gained points and men lost them—they appeared weak. Debra Condren, author of Ambition Is Not a Dirty Word, says that to avoid the anger penalty, women should stay calm at work and use humor, which “can be disarming,” when vexed.
-Jill Hamburg Coplan