A “queen bee” culture usually characterizes toxic female workplaces. The “queen” usually means a single woman in charge. In addition, a toxic female workplace is usually sexist, with women denied the same opportunities as their male counterparts. Read on to learn about ways to recognize the signs.
Misogynistic Culture
It is not uncommon for colleagues to use subtly negative language. Sometimes this language becomes a part of the office’s culture and is regarded as acceptable workplace banter. However, these language patterns negatively affect the perception of women at work. While it may seem difficult, fighting misogyny is a never-ending struggle. Sadly, a culture of sexism and prejudice will persist even at the highest levels of leadership.
Lack of Communication
If your workplace is characterized by an unhealthy atmosphere, you may be at risk of developing a toxic working environment. In such an environment, you might not be able to get the information you need to perform your job. Communication between team members may be lacking. People with toxic leadership may try to keep information from the team to maintain their power. If you work in such an environment, you might not be able to get the necessary information needed to complete your tasks or make informed decisions.
Queen bee Syndrome
The term “Queen Bee Syndrome” is an expression used to describe a type of behavior in the workplace that often leads to a negative impact on the working environment for both women and men. This type of behavior is often manifested by a high-ranking female employee, who fails to acknowledge her subordinates’ contributions and acts as a “queen bee” for the sake of achieving her own goals. Ultimately, it leads to alienation of those around her and is often a cause of workplace bullying.
Moreover, a woman who possesses a high position in the company may exhibit the symptoms of this syndrome. Oftentimes, she may treat her subordinates with disdain and make insulting remarks. Some women may even try to fix them because of this behavior. In any case, it’s important to identify and prevent queen bee syndrome.
Pressure to Prove Competence
Women are people-pleasers by nature. They like to be admired and appreciated, and they function best in a collaborative working environment. However, in a toxic workplace, women are pitted against one another and given a low status, a practice that may be effective in the short term but may work against their long-term professional goals.