February 26, 2008
Biological determinism and toys for the boys
Two extremes of managerial behaviour are dissected on successive pages in today’s FT. On the comment page, Michael Skapinker gingerly picks his way through the sensitive issue of whether men and women run things differently - and whether biology can explain any such differences. Turn over and you see a Business Life feature analysing the popularity of those ghastly plastic deal trophies that sit on the desks of macho bankers and lawyers. I loved the anecdote about the angry company which subverted the genre by sending its banker a little model of a garbage bag filled with real, shredded money to express their annoyance at a badly under-priced IPO.
Gender equality. How many husbands would be willing to be a house husband if his successful, career-woman wife is promoted and transferred abroad? I’ve noticed this happening in US/GB families in Europe. The wife’s career takes precedence, she is the one earning the big salary and perks. It can be difficult if not impossible for the husband to find a job in the new host country so he becomes a “house husband”.
Posted by: fh | February 28th, 2008 at 8:59 am | Report this commentOne sees house husbands hanging out together with their kids at the ice rink, at sports clubs, running or helping out at the after-school activities. I imagine this aspect of gender equality meets with a more positive response in the anglo-saxon culture.