Why are WOMEN in business LESS INTERESTED in a PROMOTION than men?

Question

Recent statistics indicate that women are becoming less interested in a promotion than men:

69% of entry-level women want a promotion vs. 80% of entry-level men
82% of mid-career women want a promotion vs. 86% of mid-career men
84% of senior executive women want a promotion vs. 92% of senior executive men

Why do you think that is?

Please vote in the poll.

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

That’s curious. I wonder how they arrived at those statistics. We’ve long known that one of the many reasons women tend to earn less than men is that they are far less likely to ask for a raise or a promotion. Are these numbers based on a poll asking women about their goals or a survey of the number of women requesting promotions.
My first guess is that women don’t want the added responsibilities of a promotion, so they’re demanding pay raises in positions that they’re comfortable in.

Smart women might actually be waking up to the reality of the personal costs of an ambitious career. Contrary to popular myth, men never “had it all”. Therefore the feminist rhetoric insisting that women could have it all was a flat out lie that drove millions of women to their misery. In their attempts to protect women from the misery of the rat race, men were called chauvinists and misogynistic. So they acquiesced and women still found a way to blame men for giving them exactly what they asked for. Ell oh ell!

If anyone anywhere can actually produce empirical evidence to support why women do what they do or don’t do what they don’t do, that person can reasonably expect to be awarded a Nobel Prize. I don’t expect to live long enough to witness it. Ell oh ell!

ManOnFire · Accepted Answer

It's probably because most women know they don't really need to work hard to get ahead at work. They can either just have sex with someone on the job and get special treatment, get leadership to do what they want just by being pretty and friendly, or even literally break down in tears in front of their boss to get him to give her what she wants. This is still an unfortunate truth about workplace.

Most of the sincerely hard working women who seek promotion tend to stay hard working because leadership can see that these women are serious about it, but they don't want to lose all that good quality hard work, so they string them along for a long time before finally promoting them. And usually by the time these women finally get there they are exhausted and feel like it's not really worth it in the end.

melssvdv · Accepted Answer

Many factors We have biological defects (pregnancy, menstruation, menopause) We are less emotional stable We are not as ambitious as men We do not have as much responsibilities on our shoulders as men (providers, protectors, creators of life) have And of course, the finale (drum roll): we are weaker

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

I know 3 women who were promoted and regret it. It took them further from the work they trained for and now they spend 90% of their time alne behind a desk staring at audits and reports or doing box ticking exercises created entirely to keep the person above occupied.

Advisor Smith · Accepted Answer

Women might appear less interested in promotions for a variety of nuanced reasons. Work-life balance often plays a significant role, as women may face greater responsibilities at home. Furthermore, workplace culture and potential bias can affect their enthusiasm. Women may also seek career satisfaction and personal fulfillment over hierarchical advancement. Creating supportive environments that encourage women to pursue leadership roles is essential. Initiatives like mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements, and addressing systemic biases can help bridge this gap.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

I think woman overall tend to have a more pleasant experience in the workplace. They tend to get promoted easier, because at the entry level they tend to vocalize their stress more. You hear a lot of "the manager works hard, I don't want that responsibility.” Or “the manager has a hard job, I'm not sure I could do that" and it comes across as mature and self aware in a way that when men do the same thing it comes across very differently.

What I'm trying to say is, to many people a promotion means more recognition, more prestige, more attention. And women tend to be not only be satisfied by those things more easily than men but they tend to end up with better lifestyles for having the same position and so the motivation to be promoted is lower.

There's other stuff to it too but to my best guess those are the biggest factors

ArrowheadSW · Answer

I can't speak on behalf of women because I am a guy, but one factor is that it could morph into a job that she does not like. That and a lot of extra time at work for not that much more pay.

sage2021 · Answer

I consider what it takes to get promoted in some companies, and we can't forget that some male bosses have the say as to the woman getting a promotion and become a successful professional.
Perhaps these statistics aren't because women don't want to be a successful professional and be promoted, but what they have to do in order for that to happen plays a big part in wheather they would have to do sexual favors in order for that to happen - and they just aren't willing to do that in order to get promoted.
This type of thing has been happening for years and decades. Some women are willing to do some serious couch time with her boss to climb the ladder 🪜 to success.
This isn't the definitive answer but it does happen.

Anonymous · Answer

I voted A, but there's more to it than that. Women on average are less dominant than men and less comfortable in leadership roles. Women also have different priorities than men and tend to prioritize things like a comfortable work environment higher than men relative to career trajectory. Sexism is a convenient scapegoat but it hasn't been a significant factor in the differences we see between the sexes in the workforce for a very long time.

My mother, who recently retired from a long HR career at a large employer confirms all of what I said above.

OneViewpoint · Answer

I guess it depends on the woman, her individual career situation at any given moment, and her overall goals for her career. Not everyone, male or female, wants to climb the ladder. Some people do. Some just want to be comfortable in a stable environment with as little change and stress as possible. And that's a valid position.

BonzoInBitburg · Answer

Women want promotions but men need promotions. We're more competitive and feel the pressure to be a provider.

DonaldDarko · Answer

Women evolved differently than men. That evolution is ongoing which is why they're working in the first place. Hopefully women will evolve to be more interested in taking care of themselves instead of relying on men.

exitseven · Answer

I do not know if this is true. I knew plenty of women who lived for their careers. All they tlked about was their jobs and brown nosed teh boss to get ahead.

IndianPhotoAcademy · Answer

Although many women experience greater work-life balance pressures, little support, and workplace prejudice, which can make promotions seem less appealing, women are not less ambitious. Women are just as motivated to advance as men when employers offer equal opportunities, mentorship, and flexibility.

RavVid · Answer

A woman in my extended family has always been trying to build businesses. Really she was big noting herself because she was just free lancing in different areas.

Recently I asked how it was going and was surprised to be told " I'm just trying to become a housewife now. Men like working more than women do so it is better that way".

The answer to your question might be in her reply :) Her prob is that she can't keep a man so I think she will fail.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Why would you think that? It is fundamentally inaccurate to say women are less interested. All I will say is that the lack of application is sometimes an act of self-preservation or a preference for impact and balance over pure hierarchical status.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

The differences are not staggering, and probably reflect those women who want a career for now but anticipate leaving the workforce to raise a family.

Awesomesauce2005 · Answer

Women aren't as naturally driven to achieve more because they aren't biologically and psychologically built to be ambitious and provide for a family. That has always been the man's job and it always will be

DishLady · Answer

They're not less interested in promotions. But the system isn't always "pro-female" (which no one should still have to explain).

Friendlybro79 · Answer

Interesting. I wonder how this was measured because the women I work with would seem more interested. That said, I admit that could just be anecdotal from my perspective.

40andabellygoingon · Answer

I have a friend who’s female and a corporate slave and could move up to be an executive and make 250,000 a year but she is like well they wil let me know or whatever. To me that all goes back to the Bible honestly

DeeDeeDeVour · Answer

Since I am my own boss, I just keep promoting myself. :D

YTuber417 · Answer

Possibly because for us men, having money and women are key definitions of manhood/masculinity, amongst other things also.

ABC1x1x · Answer

I've worked a white collar job in several of the world largest international companies for the last 20 years. I've had 3 out of 10 bosses as men. My current CFO is a woman. My current direct report is a woman. There isn't a man in my office. I dont think you know what you are talking about.

genericname85 · Answer

cause women are smart and aren't willing to get 100% more stress for 10% more money.

Cubus · Answer

Men and women have different mindsets. Women on average feel a need of promotion less

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Women, as (even today) a family's primary caregiver, wish a favourable work/home balance while men are still conditioned to believe they must forgo domesticity to advance in their profession.

Anonymous · Answer

Because we won't get it. We get passed over a lot. We want promotions, we just aren't given the chance.

Jennz6 · Answer

We know about the  GLASS CEILING

Anonymous · Answer

Maybe they have some other interests.

jahaims · Answer

Natural behavior

Why are WOMEN in business LESS INTERESTED in a PROMOTION than men?

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