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Original poster

Anyone work/ed in an all female work place?

57 replies

Newface · 14/08/2018 20:11

How do/did you find it?

I’m interested in a role at a small business with a currently female workforce.

Would be interested to hear the experiences of others.

OP posts:
areyouactuallykidding · 14/08/2018 21:41

Why does MN have to be so 'right on' on all the time, it's so tedious. Everyone knows, since the beginning of time, that a group of women together are more likely to be gossipy/bitchy than a group of men.

@Imchangingmyname no they don’t. It’s just a generalisation. And a misogynistic one at that. Even the limited anecdotal evidence on this thread shows your statement isn’t true.

It’s tedious to me when people spout unsubstantiated bollocks

Everyone knows, since the beginning of time, that a group of women together are more likely to be gossipy/bitchy than a group of men. Not all women. Not all men. Generally, though that's the case. It's ok to say it

Whatter · 14/08/2018 21:49

I work in a school. One male teacher.

The back stabbing is horrendous. Bitching, slatting each other, shit stirring, gossiping etc. I fucking hate it. I keep right out of it but as a result of that I'm a total outsider to the whole workforce.

It's the biggest downside of my job. It's draining Sad

mirrim · 14/08/2018 21:51

Yes, have done for years. It's a lovely group with one bitchy fecker who spoils it a bit but everyone knows what she's like so largely ignores her but not nice for newcomers even though the rest of us warn them to ignore when we see bitchiness.

NicoAndTheNiners · 14/08/2018 21:52

Yes, current job and old job.

Old job was a very large team and I would say 95% supportive and friendly with the odd cowbag.

Current job is a much smaller team and everyone is lovely.

JustHereForThePooStories · 14/08/2018 21:53

I work in a team of 15 women and absolutely love it. They’re all brilliant, and we get along terrifically.
Really supportive environment, we have a laugh, and also enjoy socialising together.

birdsdestiny · 14/08/2018 21:55

I do. It's fantastic.

Whatsthisbear · 14/08/2018 22:02

Depends on the person, the team could end up your best friend.....or your worst enemy.

If you have someone territorial and you tread on their toes, make them feel they have underperformed, like you are trying to be better than them- your life will be a misery. If you arrive as a newbie with lots to learn but people see it as a nuisance to train you and view you as extra hard work- your life will be a misery. It all totally depends on the people you get to work alongside.

Several different positions over the last 20 + odd years some (most) with all female positions.... they have all-in varying degrees- been bitchy, gossiping, back stabbing places to work.
Have they improved or have I just learned to rise above it with age? Hmmm .....well when I arrive home and start ranting to DH about XY&Z that happened today he always says “see....office full of women, always the same” ...... (My role isn’t in an office btw but I have to engage with those in the office/reception positions on a regular basis)
The turnover of staff in most places I’ve worked has been due to someone being bitchy, gossiping & resulting in the fallouts between members of staff- they all loved their jobs, just no longer could work with so & so.
The latest one means anyone walking into the office is uncomfortable as if you exchange pleasantries with X then you are on her side but if you exchange pleasantries with Y then you are on her side....one of them has found a new job so is leaving at the end of the month, her replacement will be the 3rd one in 4 years.....god help them. It’s always the best ones that go, the ones that have been here longest seem to be the ones that stay.

MeyMary · 14/08/2018 22:02

I wonder whether there might be an association with the sector rather than your colleagues' sex?

The all-female team I worked in was quite international and focused on the financial and legal aspects of certain kinds of charities/charity work.

Finance and law aren't necessarily female dominated feels (obviously depends on the country etc) which is maybe why we were really focused on fostering a positive and supportive atmosphere (and network)?

Having a common goal (successful projects) might have been helpful as well. I feel like there might be less of a goal / clearly defined projects everyone wants to succeed in professions like nursing or teaching? But I may be very wrong.

mizu · 14/08/2018 22:03

Some of these posts are awful.

I work in an almost all women department, 5 women and I man and usually other members of staff who are here a day or half a day a week and are usually women.

We get on brilliantly and have done for many years. Lucky I guess that we all do the same job - teach language - and love it. Definitely no bitchiness or backstabbing.

legolammb · 14/08/2018 22:07

I work for a charity so an overwhelmingly female workplace - my all female team is lovely and supportive and helpful. But I can think of 3 other all female teams in the organisation that fit the stereotype of bitchiness and cattiness - some real Mean Girls attitudes. But I'm only one of a few women of colour which I think makes a big difference to not fitting in and I often find myself Hmm at ignorant comments. In another workplace I got bullied by a female boss, so I certainly don't see gender as an indicator of how nice a workplace will be.

Ifeeltheneed · 14/08/2018 22:12

We must work at the same school Whatter !

Heartofglass12345 · 14/08/2018 22:13

Nursing home - awful - with the worst one being the manager Sad

storynanny · 14/08/2018 22:15

Always worked with all women in infant schools and found it generally very mutually supportive. Just the odd instances of falling out which I guess is found in mixed environments as well.

MissTulipan · 14/08/2018 22:21

Most of my 25 year career has been working with all women environments/offices. I’ve always loved it, supportive, fun, but very chatty too. I haven’t really experienced bitchy behaviour but have experienced power women which has been good to see. Have interacted with a few men at work but mainly only in accounts and they were contractors or only came in on odd days. Found that quite a novelty but far more of a novelty for them being surrounded by women.

Beingginger · 14/08/2018 22:24

I’m a HCP and it’s nearly all women, as is typical of my profession.
We’ve all worked together for a very long time (over 20 years in some cases) so they’re like my family, I love my job.
We have 2 male managers but our department is a stepping stone to a higher level so they rarely stay more than a couple of years. My previous manager is my current managers boss for example.

Anonnymouse54321 · 14/08/2018 22:28

I work in an all female team. I was slightly apprehensive about it at first but they are all fab, lovely and welcoming and I really enjoy working there. Female manager and she is amazing as well.

Meandyoumake2 · 14/08/2018 22:28

I work in an all female team - we could really benefit from having a man to stop all the chatting and ye topics discussed! Can be lovely but can also be bitchy !

flissypix · 14/08/2018 22:30

I have worked in a few all female workplace the last one was wonderful and very supportive that didn’t change at all when 2 women left and 2 men replaced them.
Another I worked in was wonderful until the manager was replaced (by another women) and then it went horribly wrong.
Currently I work with 90% women 2 men on the team I have found it a little tricky as it’s nowhere near as supportive as my last job. I have one male manager and 1 female I prefer the male one he’s much more down to earth. The worst people to work with are a team of 2 within the larger team 1 male and 1 female they are both awful, bitchy, mean and would throw you under a bus in a heartbeat in fact one of them did on my 1st day!
I think it’s nothing to do with gender and everything to do with individuals and departments. One person can set the tone.

BonnieF · 14/08/2018 22:33

I’ve only ever worked in one all-women environment, a Christmas temporary job in a high street jewellery shop when I was a student.

It was horrendous. The ‘girls’ were vacuous, bitchy and cliquey. They were all obsessed with their appearances, the value of the jewellery they owned and the next ‘piece’ they could persuade their boyfriends to buy for them. When they found out I was doing a science degree, they called me a boffin, and when they realised I didn’t entirely share their superficial materialistic values, they ostracised me.

Since those days, I have always preferred the balance of working in a mixed environment. I like talking to the women about all manner of stuff, but as a big sports fan I also enjoy the banter with the lads about football and Rugby.

DownAndUnder · 14/08/2018 22:36

I worked in a nursery where all staff were female, incredibly bitchy and cliquey. My current workplace is made up of a small team, at one point all female and it was fine but we varied massively in age. I prefer a mixed work place, we seem to have better banter/conversation/debates with a mix of age and sex.

Sarahandduck18 · 14/08/2018 22:40

Friendly caring supportive, I’m so glad I don’t have to suffer toxic masculinity at work

Boss is female as is her boss and her boss.

Perfect Wink

Moonflower12 · 14/08/2018 22:53

I've worked in lots of all female environments- nurseries and schools. In the most part they've been lovely. Occasionally the odd person who's been bitchy etc. but I don't do bitchiness so it's never really bothered me.
Where I work now is very supportive and we get on like a house on fire.

BackforGood · 14/08/2018 23:28

Everyone knows, since the beginning of time, that a group of women together are more likely to be gossipy/bitchy than a group of men

What a load of sexist tosh. Nothing to do with being 'right on' - people are giving their experiences, which do seem to be chalk and cheese.
Looking back, I've worked in 3 jobs where all staff were female (and others where the majority were). I've always experienced incredibly supportive colleagues. My current team (all women) is incredibly supportive - like another family.

GunpowderGelatine · 14/08/2018 23:39

I worked in one team with women only and it was a lovely dynamic, if anything it was too lovey-dovey for my liking, I'm far too British for that nonsense Grin

I don't know where people get this 'bitchy cliquey' stereotype from. My most miserable jobs have involved men making decisions, undermining me, talking over me and generally treating me like dirt. Women more often than not lift each other up. Men aren't interested in women advancing themselves, IME

Fstar · 14/08/2018 23:50

In my experience women get the work done, quickly and efficiently and always try to do their best. The males ive worked with have been lazy, dont give a crap, talk a load of pish and let the women pick up the slack.

Downside to women is the constant chat about their husbands and kids, that chat i can do without (i know not all women are lkke this, just my experience)