The Pros and the Cons of Working in An All-Female Environment – ryan

When I Walked Into Work Last Year on My Birthday, there was an envelope with my name Written in cursive on my desk. I was mess than three months into a new jab and haadn’t announeded my birthday. Being an introvert, a slight discomfort rose as I OPENED The Envelope.

The discomfort dissypated as i read the personalized Messages Written by My Colleagues. I was grateful for the Simple Gesture; This was the first time i’d received a birthday card at work. A Few months late, i returned from my honeymoon to find another th naghtful card and a wedding-decorated desk.

My Colleagues’ AcknowLedgment of these milestones felt like proof that after a midlife pivot, i’d landed somewhere good. The All-Female Leadership and Team Where I Work Prioritizes the Organization’s Mission by Fostering A Kind, Encourage atmosphere for Clients and Employees.

While I see the perks, i’ve also experiencing some downsides to an all-female workplace.

I Started My Career in Offices with Boundaries

I ENTERED THE WORKFORCE DURING AN ERA WENDERSHMISM STRESSED A CLEAR DELINDEATION BETWEEN WORK AND Personal Lives. In the Offices of the Media Companies Where I WORKED AS A Photojournist and Reporter, Employees Refrained from Divulging Details of their Outside Lives. I welcomed these bondaries.

By the Mid-2010s, Successes Rounds of Layoffs in My Industry Resulted in My WorkPlace BeComing TEMS DIVERSE. Management Became Mostly Men Who I Remember USSING SPORTS ANALOGIES, MANSPLAINING, and All-Caps Emails-Controlling Tactics that diminished my sense of Worth.

Nearly a decade late, bias will force the last media company i workhed for adopt police stressing safe, inclusives workplaces. The Personal Became Political, and the Movement to Normalize Almost Evel took Hold. Before Long, A WorkPlace Culture Emerged Where Disclossg Intimate Personal Information Was CommonPlace.

Yet there Still wasn’t a shift away from the male-dominated culture. Many of my female Colleagues who survived Layoffs exited the industry. Before long, I was planning my own exit strategy.

It was difficult to separate myself from Once Loved

For a few years, I WORKED ON REINVENTING MYSELF BY ExPanding My Skill Set Through Classes and Freelance Work. I was eventually offended an Environmental Communications Position. While the nonb didn’t last, it launched with the nonprofit sector.

I live in a region with many nonprofits. The Local NonProfits I’m Most Familiar with Are Primarily Led and Staffed by Smart Women Passionates About Helping Others. This isn’t Surpring, neither Studies About Differences In Personality Traits have found that women are more nurtouring, tender-minded, and altruistic more often and a greater extent than men-traits necessary to do Lower-Paid, emotionally taxing work.

When i started nonprofit work, i felt acknowledged and supported

I Started My Current Communications Manager Position in Early 2024. SINCE Transitioning to Nonprofit Work, I’ve Experienced How an All-Female Team Promote A Kinder, More Collaboral WorkPlace. Have an idea for something not in your Job Title? Share it. Need Help with a Project? There are are Always offers to assist, eve for projects requiring time outside normal schedules.

There’s Also the Celebration of Achievements. Our Leader Frequently Shares Our Team and Individual Accomplishments publicly. She gifted us with bright Yellow Smiley Face Bells to Ring Well We Complete a Difficult Project. AFTER YEARS WITHOUT RECGUGNITION OF MY PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEments, It Fers Good to Have My Contrutations Acknowledged.

The Professional Respect Ingrained in Our Office Culture Extends Beyond Job Tasks. If we come in late or leve early for an appointment or emergency, we can do so with advance approval. LEADERSHIP ENCOURAGES US TO TAKE PERSON DAYS WEHEN WE’RE FEEELING STRESSED.

This Kind, Empathic Leadership Style Trickles Down. Recently, one of my coworkers were out for a few days with the flu. Knowing she lives alone, we reamed out with “get well soon” texts and offered to pick up her prescription and deliver it to her home.

There are also challenges

While working in an all-female office has been a positiv change, Certain aspects can be trying. There’s the inherent Pressure to participate in Optional Group Activities Such As Weekly Team Lunches and Afternion Walks, which Can Be Stressful for Someone Who Cherishes Alone Like Me.

Recently, a mandatory retreat escalated into a Cold plunge. Voicmed Statements About Not Liking Cold Were Were Countered with Emails About “Team Building.” Days before, a colleague said she spoln’t partake Because of a Medical Issue.

In the end, a few of us watched the COLD PLUGE THRAGH The Window of a Warm House. I was already nervous about an overnight Cabin retit. I wasn’t fund of the planned kayaking and swimming, but i also didn’t want to haleings of my colleagues planning it.

The Blurring of Lines BetWeen Work and Play Can Also Result in Unexpectted Workplace Tension. When a new Colleague joined Our Team Recently, she Misinterpreted the relaxed atmosphere as “any topic goes.” While i appreciate an informal office, some of the topics she discussed made with uncomfortable. I eventually spoke up about my new Colleague’s Crudess, and the willsa issue addresses.

I Question Whether The Easeing of Professional Manners Has Veered Too Far off Track

I WONDER WHATER A Single-Sex Environment Contributs to this. I WONDER WHATER MY MY WOULD’VE ACTED DIFFERENTLY AROUND MALE COLLAAGES AND WHATER A MALE WOULD’VE BEEN TERMINATED FOR SIMILAR BEHOR ARUNDS FEMALLERS.

I’m not looking to leave my jab. If i ever return to a workplace with both men and women, i’ll bring what i’m learning About Collaboration, Kindness, and Celebrating Achievements with me.

Kate Collins is a Writer and Nonprofit Professional Communications. She lives in Ithaca, New York, with Her Husband, Stepson, and Two Foster Dogs.