5 Reasons Why Powerful, Outspoken Men and Women Are Treated Differently

Like it or not, outspoken men and women are treated differently in today's society. While men who are outspoken are respected and admired, many outspoken women, no matter how powerful, are perceived as argumentative, brash, and out of place. Here are 7 reasons for the continued difference in perception.

1. Women have a long tradition of creating change behind the scenes, not attracting much attention as they effectively changed society.

In centuries past, women had very little say within society, and many times, in the direction of their own lives. Their fathers decided whom they would marry and their husbands controlled the rest of their lives. As a result, women had to develop ways to affect change and make their voice heard without anyone realizing they had done so. This tradition continues this day. Many women will affect change and make their wishes known behind the scenes simply due to the fact that they are able to do so without attracting attention. Women don't necessarily feel as though they have to outspoken in order to get what they want; many men do.

2. Men are expected to stand up for their ideals and help change the world for the better. We as a society still don't expect the same from women.

Let's face it. We as a society still have different expectations for men and women. Men are pressured to participate in the economic and political spheres in ways that women still aren't. Unfortunately, most of our expectations of women still surround beauty, family, and the like. You might think that it isn't true anymore; however, look at women's magazines and how women are perceived on TV. Not many magazines directed specifically at women deal with careers, money, and politics. In our society, women still face a different set of expectations; many don't feel as though they need to stick their necks out in order to be successful. There are no expectations set on women to be outspoken.

3. As many inroads as women have made professionally, they still don't hold as many positions of power as men. As a result, many women don't have the access necessary to affect change in an effective manner.

Until women hold roughly half of all managerial and executive positions, there will be a glass ceiling. As a result, many women don't feel comfortable enough in the working environment to be as outspoken as their male counterparts. Many have the attitude that it isn't worth risking their career in order to be an outspoken advocate for change. Others feel as though they have an uphill battle due to being so far removed from upper management.

4. The age-old male focus on career/earning a living and the female focus on relationships hasn't completely gone away.

While it is true that the above statement is a sweeping generalization (as are many of the above statements), they also largely hold true. That isn't to say that men value relationships less and women don't focus on careers. It is simply acknowledging the traditional priorities our society set for men and women. Change doesn't happen overnight, and as a result, many women don't yet feel comfortable getting a reputation as someone who is outspoken, especially when it comes to politics and business, formerly two male strongholds. Many women fail to be assertive simply due to the fact that they don't want to risk relationships.

5. Many women don't feel as though they have something to prove.

Of course, there are a lot of women with strongly held beliefs, but many simply don't feel as though they have something to prove. Many men, on the other hand, feel as though they have to prove their point. As a result, many women simply don't have the same urge to be as outspoken as men, nor do they receive the same benefit.

No matter how you look at it, there are a few high-profile women who have received much attention for being outspoken (Ann Coulter, Rosie O'Donnell, and Hillary Clinton come to mind). Unfortunately, they receive harsher treatment than men who hold the same views and who are just as outspoken. I hope that I provided a little insight as to why this phenomenon still occurs in 2007.