Why Haters Hate...ESPECIALLY on Women

Career

Do you ever feel like you are killing it at work, in life or fine, even on socials? That old saying, “Haters gonna hate," well, it turns out there is a name for that, and it particularly impacts women. Being a woman with ambition seems to be a trait with consequences.

“Tall Poppy Syndrome was coined and popularized in Australia. It occurs when:

• people are attacked,

• resented,

• disliked,

• criticized or

• cut down because of their achievements and/or success.

Unfortunately, the majority of female leaders experience Tall Poppy Syndrome. The Tallest Poppy, a study led by Dr. Rumeet Billan, reveals the consequences of this silent systemic syndrome and its impact on women in the workplace. The study examines the effects of Tall Poppy Syndrome on the individual, the cost to organizations and what can be done about it.

Black Women face additional workplace trauma nuances. Since 2016 Lean In and McKinsey have conducted annual reports on Women in the Workplace in Corporate America. By almost any measure, Black women face disproportionately high workplace barriers:

1. They are heavily impacted by bias in hiring and promotions;

2. Black women are promoted at a significantly lower rate than white women at the first step up to manager, and

3. more than a quarter of Black women say their race has led to them missing out on an opportunity to advance.

4. They experience more microaggressions than other groups of women and are three to four times as likely as white women to be subjected to disrespectful and "othering" comments and behaviour.

5. They are also less likely to report that their managers check in on their well-being or help them balance priorities and deadlines.”

I highly recommend that everyone read "Right Within" by Minda Harts. She shares her career experience and how to heal from Racial Trauma in the Workplace.

A few other relevant resources:

4 Ways Millennial Women Can Level Up Their Leadership Skills During The 'Silver Tsunami.'

Speaking of Tall Poppy Syndrome, the criticism and pressure women face, did you hear about the ageist comments CNN’s Don Lemon made about women in their “prime”?

“A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” Mr. Lemon said, to the visible dismay of his “CNN This Morning” co-anchors, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. This was said in context regarding Nikki Haley, the 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate, “isn’t in her prime, sorry.” This would be a reasonable time to point out that President Joe Biden is 80 years old.

Although he has since issued an apology, it seems that no matter what women do, we face criticism. Sarah Jessica Parker has faced backlash and unwanted comments for aging naturally and going out without makeup. Yet other celebrities, such as Madonna, have been criticized for having too much work done. SJP said in her Vogue interview in 2021, "Everyone has something to say. 'She has too many wrinkles; she doesn't have enough wrinkles.' It almost feels as if people don't want us to be perfectly OK with where we are, as if they almost enjoy us being pained by who we are today, whether we choose to age naturally and not look perfect or whether you do something if that makes you feel better."

In the face of Tall Poppy Syndrome, Ageism, Racism and all of the many other -isms, in the words of Beyonce, I hope we can say to the world, “You won’t break my soul.”